Lief
From BiblePortal Wikipedia
Webster's Dictionary [1]
(1): ( adv.) Willing; disposed.
(2): ( n.) Dear; beloved.
(3): ( n.) Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable; preferable.
(4): ( n.) Same as Lif.
(5): ( n.) A dear one; a sweetheart.
(6): ( adv.) Gladly; willingly; freely; - now used only in the phrases, had as lief, and would as lief; as, I had, or would, as lief go as not.
King James Dictionary [2]
Lief, a. See Love. Dear beloved. Obs.
Lief, adv. supra. This word coincides with love, L. lubet, libet, and the primary sense is to be free, prompt, ready.
Gladly willingly freely used in familiar speech, in the phrase, I had as lief go as not. It has been supposed that had in this phrase is a corruption of would. At any rate it is anomalous.
