Obs. [Prob. formed on lief dear, but confused in form with life ? quasi ‘as one’s life.’] In phr. To love alife: to love dearly.
1601. Holland, Pliny (1634), II. 86. Saffron loueth a-life to be trampled and trod vpon. Ibid. (1603), Plutarch’s Mor., 136. A busie fellow loveth a life to step secretly into a house.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Paresseux, The sluggard loues alife things done to his hand.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 1325. I love that a-life; I am willing unto this.
