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van lieverlee. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
van lieverlee, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
van lieverlee in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
van lieverlee you have here. The definition of the word
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Dutch
Etymology
The origin of lieverlee is unclear. The whole word is attested in an earlier form as lieverlede (the intervocalic -d- vanishing is not irregular; compare leder / leer), and even earlier as Middle Dutch lieverlade. It is clear that it represents a univerbation, where the first element liever is a dative feminine singular adjective form (compare van hogerhand) of lief, but the ultimate meaning and origin of lee (from earlier lede, lade) is less clear. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.
Prepositional phrase
van lieverlee
- (idiomatic) Little by little; gradually; slowly.