leof
Old English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Germanic *leubaz (“dear, beloved”). Cognate with Old Frisian liāf, Old Saxon liof, Old High German liob, Old Norse ljúfr, Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍆𐍃 (liufs). Non-Germanic cognates include Polish luby (“dear, beloved”). Related to lufu (“love”).
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
lēof
- dear, beloved
- late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint George, Martyr"
- Nāst þū lā Geori þæt ūre godas swincað mid þē and ġit hī synd ġeþyldiġe þæt hī þe miltsion. Nū lǣre ic ðē swā swā lēofne sunu þæt ðū þæra cristenra lāre forlǣte mid ealle and tō mīnum rǣde hraðe ġebūge swā þæt ðū offriġe þām ārwurðan Appoline and þū mycelne wurðmynt miht swā beġitan.
- Knowest thou not, O George, that our gods are striving with thee, and even yet they are patient, that they may pity thee; now I exhort thee, as a beloved son, that thou altogether quit the Christians' doctrine, and quickly incline to my counsel, so that thou sacrifice to the venerable Apollo, and thou mayest so obtain great honour.
- late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint George, Martyr"
Declension edit
Declension of lēof — Strong
| Singular | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | lēof | lēof | lēof |
| Accusative | lēofne | lēofe | lēof |
| Genitive | lēofes | lēofre | lēofes |
| Dative | lēofum | lēofre | lēofum |
| Instrumental | lēofe | lēofre | lēofe |
| Plural | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
| Nominative | lēofe | lēofa, lēofe | lēof |
| Accusative | lēofe | lēofa, lēofe | lēof |
| Genitive | lēofra | lēofra | lēofra |
| Dative | lēofum | lēofum | lēofum |
| Instrumental | lēofum | lēofum | lēofum |
Declension of lēof — Weak
Noun edit
lēof m
- friend, loved one
- as a form of address, sir, can be applied to one or more people, regardless of gender.