Word Study
lest
CIDE DICTIONARY
lest, v. i.
To listen. Chaucer. Spenser. [1913 Webster]
lest, n. [See List to choose.].
Lust; desire; pleasure. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
lest, a.
Last; least. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
lest, conj. [OE. leste, fr. AS. the less that, where is the instrumental case of the definite article, and is an indeclinable relative particle, that, who, which. See The, Less, a. ].
- For fear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not. [1913 Webster]"Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty." [1913 Webster]"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." [1913 Webster]
- That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension. [1913 Webster]"I feared
Lest I might anger thee." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
lest, conj.
1 in order that not, for fear that (lest we forget).
2 that (afraid lest we should be late).
1 in order that not, for fear that (lest we forget).
2 that (afraid lest we should be late).
Etymology
OE thy l{aelig}s the whereby less that, later the l{aelig}ste, ME lest(e)
ROGET THESAURUS
lest
Avoidance
N avoidance, abstention, abstinence, for bearance, refraining, inaction, neutrality, avoidance, evasion, elusion, seclusion, avolation, flight, escape, retreat, recoil, departure, rejection, shirker, truant, fugitive, refugee, runaway, runagate, maroon, unsought, unattempted, avoiding, neutral, shy of, elusive, evasive, fugitive, runaway, shy, wild, Adj, lest, in order to avoid, Int, forbear!, keep off, hands off!, sauve qui peut!, every man for himself!, devil take the hindmost!, things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.For further exploring for "lest" in Webster Dictionary Online
