this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2024
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Everett True Comics

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A place to appreciate the twentieth century comic character Everett True of "The Outbursts of Everett True." Feel free to check out the sticky.

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[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 27 points 4 months ago (1 children)

How does one pronounce "lief"? LEEF? LIFE?

[–] criitz@reddthat.com 25 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Pronounced like leaf. Apparently it basically means "gladly". Seems to have died out in the early 20th century.

lief
/lēf/

adverb
Readily; willingly.
"I would as lief go now as later."

Gladly; willingly; freely; -- now used only in the phrases, had as lief, and would as lief.
"I had, or would, as lief go as not"

[–] emeralddawn45@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I imagine it's related to relief. Interesting. That's a relief = that makes me glad again.

[–] Squirrelsdrivemenuts@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It sounds a lot like the dutch "net zo lief" which translates to "just as lovely" and we still use it today in this context.

[–] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 months ago

i learned! Thanks!!

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 months ago

I've read it in older books with even older characters, but I've not once heard it said! Thank you.