unlief en · ADJ
Etymology
From Middle English unleeffe, unlef, from Old English unlēof (“not dear, not beloved, odious, hateful”), from Proto-West Germanic *unleub (“unloved, unpleasant”), from Proto-Germanic *unleubaz (“not dear, unpleasant”). By surface analysis, un- + lief. Cognate with Dutch onlief, German unlieb, Icelandic óljúfur (“unpleasant”).
Meanings
- (archaic) Not dear or beloved; unliked; unpleasant, hateful.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most unlief | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more unlief | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |