lest
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /lɛst/
  • (obsolete) IPA: /liːst/
Conjunction
  1. For fear#Noun|fear that; that not; in order that not; in case.
    Synonyms: before#Conjunction|before
    He won’t go outside, lest he be eaten by those ravenous eagles.
    • 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, scene i], page 15 ↗, column 2:
      I thought to haue told thee of it, but I fear'd / Leaſt I might anger thee.
  2. After certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension: that without the negative particle.
    • 1869 May, Anthony Trollope, “Lady Milborough as Ambassador”, in He Knew He Was Right, volume I, London: Strahan and Company, publishers, […], OCLC 1118026626 ↗, page 81 ↗:
Translations
  • German: fürchtend, dass; in der Furcht, dass
  • Italian: per paura che
  • Portuguese: para que, a fim de que ... não
  • Spanish: no vaya a ser que...; por temor/miedo a...
Translations
  • French: pour que (+ ne ... pas + verb in subj. mood)
  • German: bevor, auf dass nicht
  • Russian: чтобы не, и́на́че
  • Spanish: a fin de evitar ...



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