lef

See also: lēf

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish לבֿ (leyv, “courage”), which is borrowed from Hebrew לב (lev, “heart”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɛf/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: lef
• Rhymes: -ɛf

Noun

lef n or m (uncountable)

1. courage, bravery, daring
2. temerity, gall rashness, audacity

   het gore lef ― the utter gall

3. arrogance

Related terms

• lefdoekje
• lefgozer m

References

• M. J. Koenen & J. Endepols, Verklarend Handwoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal (tevens Vreemde-woordentolk), Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 (26th edition) [Dutch dictionary in Dutch]

Anagrams

• elf, fel

Fiji Hindi

Etymology

Borrowed from English left.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /leːf/

Adjective

lef

1. left (left hand side)

References

• Fiji Hindi Dictionary

Middle English

Alternative forms

• leve, lefe, leffe, life, live
• luf (Southern or West Midlands)

Etymology

From Old English lēof, līof, from Proto-West Germanic *leub, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /leːf/

Adjective

lef

1. beloved, dear
   • c. 1368, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Book of the Duchess, as recorded c. 1440–1450 in Bodleian Library MS. Fairfax 16, folio 130r:

     I have so many an ydel thoght / Purely for defaulte of slepe / That by my trouthe I take no kepe / Of noo thinge how hyt cometh or gooth / Ne me nys no thynge leve nor looth

     I have so many idle thoughts / Purely from lack of sleep / That I swear I take no heed / Of anything, whether it comes or goes, / And nothing is either dear to me or hated.

Adverb

lef

1. beloved, dear

Descendants

• English: lief; ⇒ livelong
• Scots: lief, lee
• ⇒ Yola: liveer

References

• “lẹ̄f, adj. & adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *lēb. Cognate with Old Frisian lēf, Old Saxon lēf. Further origin obscure. Compare Dutch laf and loof.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /leːf/

Adjective

lēf

1. weak, frail; sick

Declension

Declension of lēf — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	lēf	lēf	lēf
Accusative	lēfne	lēfe	lēf
Genitive	lēfes	lēfre	lēfes
Dative	lēfum	lēfre	lēfum
Instrumental	lēfe	lēfre	lēfe
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	lēfe	lēfa, lēfe	lēf
Accusative	lēfe	lēfa, lēfe	lēf
Genitive	lēfra	lēfra	lēfra
Dative	lēfum	lēfum	lēfum
Instrumental	lēfum	lēfum	lēfum

Declension of lēf — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	lēfa	lēfe	lēfe
Accusative	lēfan	lēfan	lēfe
Genitive	lēfan	lēfan	lēfan
Dative	lēfan	lēfan	lēfan
Instrumental	lēfan	lēfan	lēfan
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	lēfan	lēfan	lēfan
Accusative	lēfan	lēfan	lēfan
Genitive	lēfra, lēfena	lēfra, lēfena	lēfra, lēfena
Dative	lēfum	lēfum	lēfum
Instrumental	lēfum	lēfum	lēfum

Romansch

Alternative forms

• levz, levza (Sursilvan)
• leavz, leavza (Sutsilvan)
• leiv (Puter)

Etymology

From Latin labium, from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang loosely”).

Noun

lef f (plural lefs)

1. (Rumantsch Grischun, Surmiran, Vallader, anatomy) lip

West Frisian

Adjective

lef

1. afraid, scared

Inflection

Inflection of lef
uninflected	lef
inflected	leffe
comparative	leffer
		positive	comparative	superlative
predicative/adverbial		lef	leffer	it lefst it lefste
indefinite	c. sing.	leffe	leffere	lefste
	n. sing.	lef	leffer	lefste
	plural	leffe	leffere	lefste
definite		leffe	leffere	lefste
partitive		lefs	leffers	—

Derived terms

• leffert

Further reading

• “lef (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011