LIEF (2)

Lief (lēf), a. [Written also lieve.] [[OE. leef, lef, leof, AS. leóf; akin to OS. liof, OFries. liaf, D. lief, G. lieb, OHG. liob, Icel. ljūfr, Sw. ljuf, Goth. liubs, and E. love. √124. See Love, and cf. Believe, Leave, n., Furlough, Libidinous.]] 1. 1. Dear; beloved. “My liefe mother.” Chaucer. “My liefest liege.” Shak.
As thou art lief and dear. Tennyson. 2. 2. (Used with a form of the verb to be, and the dative of the personal pronoun.) Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable; preferable. See Lief, adv., and Had as lief, under Had.
Full lief me were this counsel for to hide. Chaucer. Death me liefer were than such despite. Spenser. 3. 3. Willing; disposed.
I am not lief to gab. Chaucer. He up arose, however lief or loth. Spenser.