Lef, _adj._ S. agreeable, willing, _lef and loth_, 261, 440, 2273, 2313, 2379, 2775. A very usual phrase. _See_ Beowulf, l. 1026. Chauc. C. T. 1839. R. Hood, i. 41. _Leue_, 431, 909. Sir Tr. p. 187. K. Horn, 949, &c. _Leuere_, _comp._ more agreeable, rather, 1193, 1423, 1671, &c. _Lef_, used as adv. willingly, in the phrase “Ye! lef, ye!” = yes, willingly, yes, 2606; cf. l. 1888. Leidest. _See_ Leyn. Leite, _adj._ S. light, 2441. Leme, _n._ S. limb, 2555. _Lime_, 1409. _Limes_, pl. 86. Leman, _n._ S. mistress, lover, 1191. _Lemman_, 1283, 1312, 1322. Used by all the old writers, and applied equally to either sex. Lende, _v._ S. to land, 733. Sir Tr. p. 13. R. Br. _See_ Jam. in v. _Leind_. Lene, _v._ S. [_leanian_] to lend, grant, 2072. I sal _lene_ the her mi ring. _Yw. and Gaw._ 737. Lenge, _n._ the fish called _ling_, 832. [_Asellus longus_, or _Islandicus_, Ray.] It was a common dish formerly. Thus we have _Lynge in jelly_, in Archb. Nevil’s Feast, 6 Edw. IV., and _Lyng in foyle_, in Warham’s Feast, 1504. _See_ Pegge’s _Form of Cury_, p. 177, 184, and MS. Sloane, 1986. Lenge, _v._ S. to prolong, 1734, 2363. P. Plowm. Leoun, _n._ Lat. lion, 573. _Leun_, 1867. Lepe, _v._ S. escape from (?) 2009. _Loupe_, to leap, 1801. _Lep_, _pa. t._ leapt, 891, 1777, 1942. _Lopen_, _pa. t. pl._ 1896, 2616. Lere, Leren, _v._ S. to learn, 797, 823; to teach, 2592. _Y-lere_, 12. Lese, v. S. _imp. s. 3 p._ loose, 333. Sir Tr. p. 110. Leth. _See_ Late. Lette, _v._ S. [_lǽtan_, _lettan_] to hinder, retard, 1164, 2253, 2819; to stop, cease, 2445, 2627. _Let_, _pa. t._ stopped, stayed, 2447, 2500. _Leten_, _pa. t. pl._ stopped, delayed, 2379. Leue, _n._ S. leave, 1387, 1626, 2952, &c. Leue, _adj._ _See_ Lef. Leue, _v._ S. [_lýfan_] _imp. s._ grant, 334, 406, 2807. K. Horn, 465, MS.; R. Gl., Erle of Tol. 365. Guy of Warw. ap. Ellis, M. R. V. 2, p. 77, where it is misprinted _lene_. It is very frequently used in the old Engl. Metrical Lives of the Saints, MS. Laud, 108. [The true distinction between _leue_ and _lene_ is, that the former is the A.S. _lýfan_, G. _erlauben_ = grant in the sense of _allow_, _permit_, and is invariably intransitive; whilst _lene_ is the A.S. _lænan_, G. _leihen_ = grant in the sense of _give_. The confusion between the senses of _grant_ has led to confusion between _lene_ and _leue_, and in at least five passages of Chaucer (C. T. 7226, 13613; Tro. ii. 1212, iii. 56, v. 1749, ed. Tyrwhitt) many editions wrongly have _lene_. In the last three instances Tyrwhitt rightly prints _leve_, but unnecessarily corrects himself in his Glossary. I regret to add that I have thrice made a similar mistake. In Piers Plowman, A. v. 263, and in Pierce the Ploughman’s Crede, ll. 366 and 573, for _lene_ read _leue_. Halliwell’s remark, that “the [former] editor of Havelok absurdly prints _leue_” is founded upon the same misconception, and he is wrong in his censure. _See_ the use of _lefe_ in the Ormulum, ed. White.]