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I shan't ask you twice, madame! (February 25, 1906) (midwest.social)

submitted 3 months ago by clark@midwest.social to c/truecomics@midwest.social

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[-] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 27 points 3 months ago

How does one pronounce "lief"? LEEF? LIFE?

[-] criitz@reddthat.com 25 points 3 months ago

Pronounced like leaf. Apparently it basically means "gladly". Seems to have died out in the early 20th century.

lief
/lēf/

adverb
Readily; willingly.
"I would as lief go now as later."

Gladly; willingly; freely; -- now used only in the phrases, had as lief, and would as lief.
"I had, or would, as lief go as not"

[-] emeralddawn45@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 3 months ago

I imagine it's related to relief. Interesting. That's a relief = that makes me glad again.

[-] Squirrelsdrivemenuts@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

It sounds a lot like the dutch "net zo lief" which translates to "just as lovely" and we still use it today in this context.

[-] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

i learned! Thanks!!

[-] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 months ago

I've read it in older books with even older characters, but I've not once heard it said! Thank you.

this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2024

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