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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. |
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME leste, contr. of the lesse the, thi les the; late OE the lǣste, earlier thȳ lǣs the, lit., whereby less that (thȳ instrumental case of the demonstrative and relative pronoun, lǣs less, the relative particle)
bef. 1000; ME leste, contr. of the lesse the, thi les the; late OE the lǣste, earlier thȳ lǣs the, lit., whereby less that (thȳ instrumental case of the demonstrative and relative pronoun, lǣs less, the relative particle)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To lest
| lest (lěst) conj. For fear that: tiptoed lest the guard should hear her; anxious lest he become ill. [Middle English, from Old English (thȳ) lǣs the, (whereby) less that, so that not : lǣs, less; see less + the, relative conjunction; see to- in Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Lest
Lest\ (l[e^]st), v. i. To listen. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Spenser.Lest
Lest\, n. [See List to choose.] Lust; desire; pleasure. [Obs.] --Chaucer.Lest
Lest\, a. Last; least. [Obs.] --Chaucer.Lest
Lest\, conj. [OE. leste, fr. AS. [eth][=y] l[=ae]s [eth][=e] the less that, where [eth][=y] is the instrumental case of the definite article, and [eth][=e] is an indeclinable relative particle, that, who, which. See The, Less, a.]1. For fear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. --Prov. xx. 13. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. --1 Cor. x. 12. 2. That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension. I feared Lest I might anger thee. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : lest
Spanish:
por miedo a que,
German:
daß,
Japanese:
～しないかと
lest
c.1240, from O.E. 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 other two words contracted into leste.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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