lest
Americanconjunction
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for fear that; so that (one) should not (used negatively to introduce a clause expressive of an action or occurrence requiring caution).
He kept his notes by his side lest faulty memory lead him astray.
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that (used after words expressing fear, danger, etc.).
There was danger lest the plan become known.
idioms
conjunction
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so as to prevent any possibility that
he fled the country lest he be captured and imprisoned
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(after verbs or phrases expressing fear, worry, anxiety, etc) for fear that; in case
he was alarmed lest she should find out
Etymology
Origin of lest
First recorded before 1000; Middle English leste, contraction of the lesse the, thi les the; late Old English the lǣste, earlier thȳ lǣs the, literally, “whereby less that” ( thȳ instrumental case of the demonstrative and relative pronoun, lǣs less, the conjunction)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Not one to throw carrots, lest you want carrots thrown at you, if you get my meaning.”
From Literature
In the mid-19th century, do-gooders such as William Alcott and Sarah Josepha Hale began urging children be fed a bland diet, lest rich flavoring imperil their health and futures.
He promiscuously puts his name on everything this side of the moon, and I probably shouldn’t even mention that particular satellite, lest he get ideas.
From Slate
In both cases, the outside world was careful not to investigate what was taking place, lest it be forced to act.
And, lest we forget, it was only halftime.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
