51Թ

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View synonyms for

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

/ ɛ /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ 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 ǣte, earlier ٳ̄ ǣ the, literally, “whereby less that” ( ٳ̄ instrumental case of the demonstrative and relative pronoun, ǣ less, the conjunction)
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of lest1

Old English the ǣte, earlier thӯ ǣ the, literally: whereby less that
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. lest we forget. lest we forget.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In pockets all across the city, rumors swirl about ICE checkpoints, ICE raids and warnings for immigrants — unauthorized and otherwise — to stay home lest they be stopped by an agent, who may or may not believe the person they’re speaking with is a citizen or legally permitted to be here.

From

Shinty is his first love, and was a regular with Oban Celtic until he reluctantly had to hang up his Caman lest an injury derailed his golf.

From

The series’ camera crew is in the actors’ faces so much that they have to wear medical scrubs, lest they get caught in a background shot.

From

Ultimately, lest the bullpen arms become injured and/or ineffective, the manager said, “We’re going to need some depth out of some starters.”

From

The show is too far removed from its glory days, and Housewives are too tempted to soften their behavior, lest they face the ire of Bravo fans sitting at the edge of their seats, waiting for any reason to publicly call for someone’s removal from the show.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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less thanLester