Obs. Forms: 1 (ʓe)léafa, 2 i-leafe, leave, 3 leaf, lefve, Orm. læfe, 3–4 leve. [OE. ʓeléafa, léafa str. masc. = OFris. láva, OS. gilôƀo (MDu. gelôve, Du. geloof), OHG. giloubo (MHG. geloube, G. glaube); Goth. has galaubeins, with different suffix; related to Goth. galaubjan: see Y-LEVE, BELIEVE vbs.] Belief, faith; occas. trust.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. viii. 10. Ne fand ic suæ miclo leafa [c. 1000 Ags. Gosp. ʓeleafan] in israhel.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., Pref. (Z.), 3. Forðan ðe ðurh lare byð se ʓeleafa ʓehealden.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 5. We sulen habben ure heorte and habben godne ileafe to ure drihten. Ibid., 57. Mid al þis haue þu charite and soðfeste leaue.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2776. Godess þeoww birrþ habbenn her Aȝȝ soþfasst læfe o Criste.
c. 1205. Lay., 16840. Ȝif heo wulleð cristindom mid gode lefue vnder-fon.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 384. Ich iseo wel … þat tu were iset ȝung to leaf & to lare.
a. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 548, in O. E. Misc. Haue þu none leue to þe þad after þe bileued.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 247. Noþeles he wild haf briggid, þe fals leue & erroure.
