Adjacent Words

Lest definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

LEST, con. That not; for fear that.
Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Genesis 3.
The phrase may be thus explained. Ye shall not touch it; that separated or dismissed, ye die. That here refers to the preceding command or sentence; that being removed or not observed, the fact being not so, ye will die.
Sin no more, lest a worse thing come to thee. John 5.
Sin no more; that fact not taking place, a worse thing will happen to thee.

Merriam Webster's

conjunction Etymology: Middle English les the, leste, from Old English thy? l?s the, from thy? (instrumental of thæt that) + l?s + the, relative particle Date: before 12th century for fear that — often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension <worried lest she should be late> <hesitant to speak out lest he be fired>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

conj. 1 in order that not, for fear that (lest we forget). 2 that (afraid lest we should be late). Etymology: OE thy læs the whereby less that, later the læste, ME lest(e)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Lest Lest, n. [See List to choose.] Lust; desire; pleasure. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Lest Lest, a. Last; least. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Lest Lest, conj. [OE. leste, fr. AS. [eth][=y] l[=ae]s [eth][=e] the less that, where [eth][=y] is the instrumental case of the definite article, and [eth][=e] is an indeclinable relative particle, that, who, which. See The, Less, a.] 1. For fear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. --Prov. xx. 13. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. --1 Cor. x. 12. 2. That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension. I feared Lest I might anger thee. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Lest Lest (l[e^]st), v. i. To listen. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Spenser.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

If you do something lest something unpleasant should happen, you do it to try to prevent the unpleasant thing from happening. (FORMAL) I was afraid to open the door lest he should follow me... And, lest we forget, Einstein wrote his most influential papers while working as a clerk. = in case CONJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

conj. That not, for fear that.