lief 
(lēf)
(lēf)adv. lief·er, lief·est
Readily; willingly: I would as lief go now as later.
adj. liefer, liefest
Archaic
Archaic
1. Beloved; dear.
2. Ready or willing.
[Middle English leve, lef, dear, willingly, from Old English lēof, dear; see leubh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]