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unless

 - 3 dictionary results

un⋅less

  [uhn-les, uhn-]
Use unless in a Sentence
–conjunction
1. except under the circumstances that: I'll be there at nine, unless the train is late.
–preposition
2. except; but; save: Nothing will come of it, unless disaster.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME prepositional phrase on less (also o less(e), earlier upon less) on a lesser footing or condition (than); first used as a prep. and conj. in the early 16th century; see on, less
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To unless
un·less   (ŭn-lěs')   
conj.  Except on the condition that; except under the circumstances that: "Exceptional talent does not always win its reward unless favored by exceptional circumstances" (Mary Elizabeth Braddon).
prep.  Except for; except.

[Middle English unlesse, alteration (influenced by un-, not) of onlesse : on, on; see on + lesse, less; see less.]
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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Word Origin & History

unless 
1467, earlier onlesse (c.1440), from on lesse (than) "on a less condition (than)," the first syllable originally on, but the negative connotation and the lack of stress changed it to un-.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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