lest
[ lest ]
/ lɛst /
conjunction
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.
that (used after words expressing fear, danger, etc.): There was danger lest the plan become known.
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Nearby words
- lessing,
- lessing, doris,
- lessing, gotthold ephraim,
- lesson,
- lessor,
- lester,
- lestobiosis,
- lesya,
- let,
- let alone
Origin of lest
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 relative particle)
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for lest
lest
/ (lɛst) /
conjunction (subordinating; takes should or a subjunctive verb)
so as to prevent any possibility thathe fled the country lest he be captured and imprisoned
(after verbs or phrases expressing fear, worry, anxiety, etc) for fear that; in casehe was alarmed lest she should find out
Word Origin for lest
Old English the lǣste, earlier thӯ lǣs the, literally: whereby less that
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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lest
c.1200, contracted from Middle English phrase les te "less that," from Old English phrase þy læs þe "whereby less that," from þy, instrumental case of demonstrative article þæt "that" + læs (see less) + þe "the." The þy was dropped and the remaining two words contracted into leste.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper