Showing posts with label lief. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lief. Show all posts

Monday, October 8, 2012

leaf, lief

Leaf or leaf means one of the growing parts of a tree, shrub, or plant, now turning orange, red, and yellow--
She tried to preserve the pretty leaf by pressing it between sheets of waxed paper.
She drew a fall scene and colored each leaf with a different crayon.
Leaf may also mean a thin sheet of metal--
The statue was covered in gold leaf.
Leaf may mean one sheet of paper from a book, with or without printing on it--
He tore a leaf from the book to write a note.
Leaf may also be used figuratively--
He promised to turn over a new leaf, and to behave better in the future.

Lief or lief ( rhymes with leaf  ) means willingly or gladly--
I'd as lief walk home as ride with a drunk driver.
She would as lief stay home as go on vacation, most years.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He would as lief go outside to admire each colorful leaf as go to a party or football game."

Note--"leaves" may be the plural ( more than one ) of "leaf"--
The leaves are starting to change color.
"Leaves" may also be the third person singular ( he, she, it ) form of "leave", meaning to depart or go away--
She leaves for work every morning at nine.
Note #v 2--a "leaflet" is a small brochure or pamphlet--
They distributed a leaflet to announce the opening of their new business.
A "leaflet" may also be a small leaf, just beginning to grow from a branch or stem--
She checked the little plant every day, to see if it had made a new leaflet yet.