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.
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)
Words nearby lest
lesser's triangle,
lessing,
lessing, doris,
lesson,
lessor,
lest,
lester,
lestobiosis,
lesya,
let,
let alone
Example sentences from the Web for lest
British Dictionary definitions for lest
lest
/ (lɛst) /
conjunction (subordinating; takes should or a subjunctive verb)
so as to prevent any possibility that
he fled the country lest he be captured and imprisoned
(after verbs or phrases expressing fear, worry, anxiety, etc)
for fear that; in case
he was alarmed lest she should find out
Word Origin for lest
Old English
the lǣste, earlier
thӯ lǣs the, literally: whereby less that