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Lest: meaning, definitions and examples

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lest

 

[ lɛst ]

Conjunction
Context #1 | Conjunction

formal usage

Lest is used to introduce a clause that expresses a fear or a concern that something undesirable might happen. It often implies precaution or warning.

Synonyms

for fear that, in case, to avoid

Examples of usage

  • She took an umbrella lest it should rain.
  • He studied hard lest he fail the exam.
  • I keep the windows closed lest someone break in.

Translations

Translations of the word "lest" in other languages:

🇵🇹 menos

🇮🇳 कम से कम

🇩🇪 wenigstens

🇮🇩 setidaknya

🇺🇦 менше

🇵🇱 przynajmniej

🇯🇵 少なくとも

🇫🇷 au moins

🇪🇸 al menos

🇹🇷 en az

🇰🇷 적어도

🇸🇦 على الأقل

🇨🇿 alespoň

🇸🇰 aspoň

🇨🇳 至少

🇸🇮 vsaj

🇮🇸 að minnsta kosti

🇰🇿 кем дегенде

🇬🇪 მინიმუმ

🇦🇿 ən azı

🇲🇽 al menos

Word origin

The word 'lest' originates from the Old English 'lǣst', which means 'less than', and is a contraction of 'for lest', used to introduce a clause expressing fear or caution. Its usage dates back to the early Middle Ages, becoming more prevalent in literary texts, especially in Shakespearean works. Over time, it has maintained its place in formal and poetic language, often conveying a sense of urgency or precautionary intent. The etymology of 'lest' relates closely to the idea of preventing negative outcomes and reflects a time when speech was characterized by a more cautious approach to communication.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,781 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.