lief
/liːf
/adverb (as lief) archaic
As happily; as gladly: he would just as lief eat a pincushion...
- ‘I had as lief be a Brownist as a politician,’ said bibulous Sir Andrew Ague-cheek.
- Here is W. S. Gilbert's spoof line, ‘I would as lief be thrust through a thicket hedge as cry Pooh to a callow throstle’.
- As for the first, I would as lief pray with him as with any man.
Origin
Old English lēof 'dear, pleasant', of Germanic origin: related to leave2 and love.