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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. conj. For fear that: tiptoed lest the guard should hear her; anxious lest he become ill.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. For fear that; that … not; so that … not: as, he fled lest (or for fear that) he should be killed; take heed lest you fall (that you fall not).
  2. etc. A Middle English form of last, least, list, lust.

Wiktionary

  1. conj. For fear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not; in case.
  2. conj. That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. v. To listen.
  2. n. Lust; desire; pleasure.
  3. adj. Last; least.
  4. conj. For fear that; that … not; in order that … not.
  5. conj. That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension.

Etymologies

  1. Middle English, from Old English (thȳ) lǣs the, (whereby) less that, so that not : lǣs, less; see less + the, relative conjunction; see to- in Indo-European roots.

Examples

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Lists

These user-created lists contain the word ‘lest’.

Comments

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  • Kristianto2010 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
    1 Corinthians 1:17-25. Lest = in order to prevent, for fear that. Jul 3, 2011

  • enghoff lest a monster I become. Sep 15, 2007

‘lest’ has been looked up 2487 times, loved by 3 people, added to 26 lists, commented on 2 times, and has a Scrabble score of 4.