Where does “lief” come from?

lief (Scots) comes from Middle English lef, from Old English lēaf, from Proto-Germanic laubō, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.

lief (Scots): dear, beloved

Definitions

  1. dear, beloved

Ancestry of “lief”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlefleaf
2Old Englishlēafpermission, privilege; permission, leave; leaf,...
3Proto-Germaniclaubōpermission
4Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēw- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic laubō →