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

submitted 10 months ago by clark@midwest.social to c/truecomics@midwest.social

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[-] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 27 points 10 months ago

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

[-] criitz@reddthat.com 25 points 10 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 10 months ago

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

[-] Squirrelsdrivemenuts@lemmy.world 5 points 10 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 10 months ago

i learned! Thanks!!

[-] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 7 points 10 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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