Obs. Forms: 1 lof, loob, 2–4 lof, 3 Orm. loff, 3–5 lofe, 4–5 loue, 5 loff, 6 Sc. loif. [OE. lof masc. = OFris., OS. lof neut. (Du. lof), OHG. lob neut., masc. (MHG. lop, inflected lob-; mod.G. lob neut.), ON. lof neut. (Sw. lof, Da. lov):—OTeut. type *loƀo-, f. the root *loƀ-, luƀ-: see LOVE sb.]
1. Praise.
Beowulf, 1536. Swa sceal man don, þonne he æt guðe ʓegan þenceð longsumne lof.
c. 725. Corpus Gloss. (Hessels), 122. Ymnus, loob.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 7. Drihten þu dest þe lof of milc drinkende childre muðe.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3379. Si Drihhtin upp inn heoffness ærd Wurrþminnt & loff & wullderr.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxvi. (Ioh. Baptista), 1. In lofe of patriarkes al, and of þame þat we prophetis cal.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 2. Till him be gevin honoure lof and glore.
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xxix. 18. Thair hairtis ar sett wt sittelness, For loif and not for lufe.
a. 1568. Bannatyne Poems (Hunter. Club), 223. Leill loif, and lawte lyis behind.
2. Price, value.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 213. Þe sullere lat sumdel of his lofe … þe beggere ecneð his bode [etc.].
c. 1205. Lay., 18190. Þer to he læide muchel lof.
3. Comb.: lof-ȝeorn a., desirous of praise; lof-like a., worthy of praise.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 103. Þe seofeðe sunne is icweðen Iactancia þet is idelȝelp on englisc þenne mon bið lof-ȝeorn.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xcv[i]. 4. For mikel Laverd, swith loof-like to se; Aghfulle over alle goddes es he.
