O.E.
leof "dear," from P.Gmc.
*leubo- (cf. O.N.
ljutr, O.Fris.
liaf, O.H.G.
liob, Ger.
lieb, Goth.
liufs "dear, beloved"), from PIE base
*leubh- "love" (see
love). A most useful word, now, alas, all but extinct.
Want and
love are overworked and misused to fill the hole left in the language when this word faded in 17c.