used as a form of address to one or to many, cf. modern 'dear sir' :-- Wé biddap ðé leóf ðæt ðú hlyste úre sprǽce oramus, domine, ut audias nos, Gen. 43, 20: 3, 10 : Ælfc. Gen. Thw. 1, 5, 14. Ðá cwæþ ðæt wíf tó him leóf ðæs mé þingþ ðú eart wítega dicit ei mulier domine video quia propheta es tu, Jn. Skt. 4, 19. Hí cwǽdon, leóf, wé wyllaþ geseón ðone hǽlend, 12, 21. Seó gegaderung his leorningcnihta cwæþ Drihten leóf wilt ðú nú gesettan ende ðysre worulde the assembly of his disciples said, Lord, wilt thou now put an end to this world, Homl. Th. i. 294, 24. Ic bidde eów leóf ðæt gé gecirron tó mínum húse obsecro, domini, declinate in domum pueri vestri, Gen. 19, 2. Gefyrn ic hine cúðe leóf ... La leóf nele hé gelýfan mínum wordum long ago 1 knew him, Sir ... Ah! Sir, he will not believe my words, Glostr. Frag. 2, 10, 19. Lá leóf O Lord, Gen. 18, 23, 25, 28, 30, 31. Hí cwǽdon tó ðám apostolon lá leóf hwæt is ús tó dónne they said to the apostles, Sirs, what shall we do? Homl. Th. i. 314, 33.