Had (hd), imp. & p. p. of Have. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS. hÊfde.] See
Have.
Had as lief, Had rather, Had better, Had as soon, etc., with a
nominative and followed by the infinitive without to, are well
established idiomatic forms. The original construction was that of the
dative with forms of be, followed by the infinitive. See Had better,
under Better.
And lever me is be pore and trewe. [And more agreeable to me it is
to be poor and true.]