lest

[lest]

conjunction

1. for fear that; so that (one) should not (used negatively to introduce a clause expressive of an action or occurrence requiring caution).

   He kept his notes by his side lest faulty memory lead him astray.

2. that (used after words expressing fear, danger, etc.).

   There was danger lest the plan become known.

lest

/ lɛst /

conjunction

1. so as to prevent any possibility that

   he fled the country lest he be captured and imprisoned

2. (after verbs or phrases expressing fear, worry, anxiety, etc) for fear that; in case

   he was alarmed lest she should find out

Word History and Origins

Origin of lest¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English leste, contraction of the lesse the, thi les the; late Old English the lǣste, earlier thȳ lǣs the, literally, “whereby less that” ( thȳ instrumental case of the demonstrative and relative pronoun, lǣs less, the conjunction)

Word History and Origins

Origin of lest¹

Old English the lǣste, earlier thӯ lǣs the, literally: whereby less that

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lest we forget. lest we forget.

Example Sentences

Many must gather secretly, careful not to arrive all at once or sing too loudly, lest mobs or police hear about it.

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Lest anyone think that it’s easy for a three-time Oscar winner to make a movie these days, Brooks is happy to differ, saying it is as hard for him as for anyone else.

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On Tuesday, after months without seeing her cardiologist, Newman was admitted to Huntington Hospital gasping for air, afraid to even close her eyes at night lest her daughter wake up an orphan.

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“So it’s good for me to connect with you, lest I die uselessly,” she said, laughing as she filled out the survey.

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Hoza sneaks candy out of a bag, lest the trio’s 2 ½ -year-old daughter Georgette, watching AI ginger cat videos in her nearby bedroom, senses the presence of sugar — in which case, the doting parents would likely be unable to say no.

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