leofre

Old English

Alternative forms

līofre

Etymology

The adverbial use dates back at least to Proto-West Germanic, when the word would have been *leubōzā. This usage persists into Modern German to this day: Proto-West Germanic *miz isti leubōzā (“I would rather”) → Old English mē is lēofre, German mir ist lieber.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈle͜oːf.re/, [ˈle͜oːv.re]

Adjective

lēofre

inflection of lēof:
1. strong genitive and dative feminine singular
2. nominative feminine singular comparative degree
3. nominative and accusative neuter singular comparative degree

Adverb

lēofre

used to specify a choice or preference: rather
- late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans
  Him wæs lēofre þæt hine man ofslōge þonne hine man ġebunde.
  He would rather be killed than be bound in chains.
- late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 29:19
  Lēofre mē is þæt iċ hīe selle þē þonne ōðrum menn. Wuna mid mē!
  I'd rather give her to you than to someone else. Stay with me!
- c. 1000, unknown author, Vercelli Homily IX
  Ġif hwelċ mann biþ on helle āne niht, þonne biþ him lēofre þæt hē hangiġe seofon þūsende wintra on þām lenġestan treowe ufeweardum.
  Anyone who spends one day in hell would rather hang for seven thousand years from the top of the tallest tree.
- late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans
  Hīe cwǣdon þæt him lēofre wǣre þæt hīe mid þǣre byrġ ætgædere forwurden þonne hīe man būtan him tōwurpe.
  They said that they would rather perish together with the city than for it to be destroyed without them.
- late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans
  Scīpio ġebræġd his sweord and swōr þæt him lēofre wǣre þæt hē hine selfne ācwealde þonne hē forlēte his fæderēðel, and sæġde ēac þæt hē þāra ǣlċes wolde ēhtan swā swā his fēondes þe þæs wordes wǣre þæt fram Rōme byrġ þōhte.
  Scipio drew his sword and swore that he would rather kill himself than desert his fatherland, and said that he would pursue anyone as his enemy who confessed they planned to leave Rome.

Descendants

Middle English: leever
- English: liever

单词	leofre
释义	leofre Old English Alternative forms līofre Etymology The adverbial use dates back at least to Proto-West Germanic, when the word would have been leubōzā. This usage persists into Modern German to this day: Proto-West Germanic miz isti leubōzā (“I would rather”) → Old English mē is lēofre, German mir ist lieber. Pronunciation IPA^(key): /ˈle͜oːf.re/, [ˈle͜oːv.re] Adjective lēofre inflection of lēof: strong genitive and dative feminine singular nominative feminine singular comparative degree nominative and accusative neuter singular comparative degree Adverb lēofre used to specify a choice or preference: rather late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans Him wæs lēofre* þæt hine man ofslōge þonne hine man ġebunde.* He would rather be killed than be bound in chains. late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 29:19 Lēofre mē is þæt iċ hīe selle þē þonne ōðrum menn. Wuna mid mē! I'd rather give her to you than to someone else. Stay with me! c. 1000, unknown author, Vercelli Homily IX Ġif hwelċ mann biþ on helle āne niht, þonne biþ him lēofre* þæt hē hangiġe seofon þūsende wintra on þām lenġestan treowe ufeweardum.* Anyone who spends one day in hell would rather hang for seven thousand years from the top of the tallest tree. late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans Hīe cwǣdon þæt him lēofre* wǣre þæt hīe mid þǣre byrġ ætgædere forwurden þonne hīe man būtan him tōwurpe.* They said that they would rather perish together with the city than for it to be destroyed without them. late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans Scīpio ġebræġd his sweord and swōr þæt him lēofre wǣre þæt hē hine selfne ācwealde þonne hē forlēte his fæderēðel, and sæġde ēac þæt hē þāra ǣlċes wolde ēhtan swā swā his fēondes þe þæs wordes wǣre þæt fram Rōme byrġ þōhte. Scipio drew his sword and swore that he would rather kill himself than desert his fatherland, and said that he would pursue anyone as his enemy who confessed they planned to leave Rome. Descendants Middle English: leever English: liever
随便看	echters echtes echteste echtestem echtesten echtester echtestes echtgenoot echtgenootje echtgenootjes echtgenote echtgenoten echtgenotes echtheid Echtheit Echtheitszertifikat echt jetzt echtman echtmijding echt niet echtpaar echtpaartje echtpaartjes echtparen echts