lestconj.

Brit.

/lɛst/, U.S.

/lɛst/

Forms: Old English þý lǽs þe, þe lǽs þe, þe lǽste, Middle English þi les ðe, Middle English last(e, leste, les, Middle English lesse, Middle English–1700s leest, Middle English lyst(e, 1500s–1700s Scottish leist, 1500s–1800s least(e, Middle English– lest.

Etymology: Old English phrase þý lǽs þe , lit. ‘whereby less’ = Latin quōminus (þý instrumental of the demonstrative and relative pronoun + lǽs less adj. + þe relative particle). In Middle English the first word of the phrase was dropped, and les þe became les te in accordance with the general rule that þ after s changed into t.

a. Used as a negative particle of intention or purpose, introducing a clause expressive of something to be prevented or guarded against; = Latin nē, English that..not, for fear that.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > in provision against the case that [conjunction]

lestc1000

lest thatc1400

c1000 West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) v. 14 Ne synga þu þe-læs þe þe on sumon þingon wyrs getide.

a1100 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses i. 3675 Ne..offenderit, þe læste gehremde.

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 117 Vnderfoð steore þi les ðe god iwurðe wrað wið eou.

a1240 Lofsong in Cott. Hom. 209 Ne bi-hold þu ham [mine sunnen] nout leste þu wreoke ham on me.

c1330 Spec. Gy Warw. 856 Go, man, while þat þu hast liht, Lest þe of-take þe derke niht.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Thisbe. 723 I-kept..fful streyte lyst they dedyn sum folye.

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xxi. 337 Ich sotelide how ich myghte Lette hem þat louede hym nat lest þei wolde hym martrye.

a1400–50 Alexander (Ashm.) 732 Haue a gud eȝe, Les [Dublin MS. lest] on þine ane here-efterward þine ossyngis liȝt.

a1400–50 Alexander (Dubl.) 1372 And band hir..Lest sho flechett or faylett with fyfe score ankers.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark xiii. f. lxiiii Take hede lest eny man deceave you.

1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 41 That he my fyve brether aduerteis may, Leist thay in to this cairfull place discend.

1599 H. Buttes Dyets Dry Dinner sig. A4^v The which least I should seeme only idlely to wish, I have [etc.].

1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. iii. 41 Forge your work as true as you can, least it cost you great pains at the Vice.

1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 221 But, lest you should be alarm'd, if I don't come home by Ten, don't expect me.

1795 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 796 But owre my left shouther I gae him a blink, Least neebors might say I was saucy.

1797 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) IV. 174 Nobody scarcely will venture to buy or draw bills, lest they should be paid there in depreciated currency.

1815 W. Taylor in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) II. 454 I did not like to write to you without the book at my elbow, least I should misremember.

1855 J. R. Leifchild Cornwall: Mines & Miners 262 Look to the Purser well, lest he look to himself too well.

1897 R. Kipling Recessional in Times 17 July 13/6 Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget—lest we forget!

†b. lest that phr. Obsolete in the same sense.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > if, in case, or lest [conjunction]

ifc825

lestc1000

waldOE

anda1225

lest whena1300

in case1357

anc1400

lest thatc1400

the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > in provision against the case that [conjunction]

lestc1000

lest thatc1400

c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 43 Nouȝt to hot a medycine, leste þat he make þe lyme toswellyn.

1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 8204 Lyst that she were wroth with me, I suffrede.

1493 Chastysing Goddes Chyldern (de Worde) ii. sig. Aiij/2 Leest y^t ye lese him in your owne defawte.

1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 115 Least that the difficultie of the thing mighte somwhat discouragie you, I will [etc.].

†c. lest when phr. = Latin nequando: lest at any time.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > if, in case, or lest [conjunction]

ifc825

lestc1000

waldOE

anda1225

lest whena1300

in case1357

anc1400

lest thatc1400

the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > in provision against the case that [conjunction] > at any time

lest whena1300

a1300 E.E. Psalter ii. 12 Gripes lare, leswhen [L. nequando] lauerd wrethide be.

a1340 R. Rolle Psalter cxxxix. 9 Forsake me noght leswhen [L. ne forte] þai be heghid.

2. Used after verbs of fearing, or phrases indicating apprehension or danger, to introduce a clause expressing the event that is feared; equivalent to the Latin nē, and in English often admitting of being replaced by that (without accompanying negative).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > if, in case, or lest [conjunction]

ifc825

lestc1000

waldOE

anda1225

lest whena1300

in case1357

anc1400

lest thatc1400

c1000 Ælfric Genesis xxxii. 11 For þam þe ic hine [Esau] swiðe ondræde, þe læs þe he cume and ofslea þas modra mid hiora cildum.

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 10415 Þe king was nei for drede wod..Laste þe king of fraunce & mansing him ssolde ssende.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 953 He was a-drad to þe deþ last sche him dere wold.

?a1400 Arthur 289 We dowteþ last he wel do soo, For he ys Myghty know þer-too.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxii. 214 My hert trymbleth for fere leest he be deed.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cclxix^v There is daunger, lest or euer they be ready, the enemy wyl haue inuaded his countrey.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 95 A reuerend feir..leist thay offend in things of honestie.

1653 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees 42 All the danger is, least we take too much liberty herein.

1750 H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 316 Lady Catherine grew frightened, lest her infanta should vex herself sick.

1823 F. Clissold Narr. Ascent Mont Blanc 20 I felt a strong inclination to sleep, and feared lest I should drop down.

1881 Punch 29 Oct. 198 Fearing lest they should succumb.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online September 2021).

单词	lest
释义	lestconj. Brit. /lɛst/, U.S. /lɛst/ Forms: Old English þý lǽs þe, þe lǽs þe, þe lǽste, Middle English þi les ðe, Middle English last(e, leste, les, Middle English lesse, Middle English–1700s leest, Middle English lyst(e, 1500s–1700s Scottish leist, 1500s–1800s least(e, Middle English– lest. Etymology: Old English phrase þý lǽs þe , lit. ‘whereby less’ = Latin quōminus (þý instrumental of the demonstrative and relative pronoun + lǽs less adj. + þe relative particle). In Middle English the first word of the phrase was dropped, and les þe became les te in accordance with the general rule that þ after s changed into t. 1. a. Used as a negative particle of intention or purpose, introducing a clause expressive of something to be prevented or guarded against; = Latin nē, English that..not, for fear that. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > in provision against the case that [conjunction] lestc1000 lest thatc1400 c1000 West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) v. 14 Ne synga þu þe-læs þe þe on sumon þingon wyrs getide. a1100 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses i. 3675 Ne..offenderit, þe læste gehremde. c1175 Lamb. Hom. 117 Vnderfoð steore þi les ðe god iwurðe wrað wið eou. a1240 Lofsong in Cott. Hom. 209 Ne bi-hold þu ham [mine sunnen] nout leste þu wreoke ham on me. c1330 Spec. Gy Warw. 856 Go, man, while þat þu hast liht, Lest þe of-take þe derke niht. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Thisbe. 723 I-kept..fful streyte lyst they dedyn sum folye. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xxi. 337 Ich sotelide how ich myghte Lette hem þat louede hym nat lest þei wolde hym martrye. a1400–50 Alexander (Ashm.) 732 Haue a gud eȝe, Les [Dublin MS. lest] on þine ane here-efterward þine ossyngis liȝt. a1400–50 Alexander (Dubl.) 1372 And band hir..Lest sho flechett or faylett with fyfe score ankers. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark xiii. f. lxiiii Take hede lest eny man deceave you. 1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 41 That he my fyve brether aduerteis may, Leist thay in to this cairfull place discend. 1599 H. Buttes Dyets Dry Dinner sig. A4^v The which least I should seeme only idlely to wish, I have [etc.]. 1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. iii. 41 Forge your work as true as you can, least it cost you great pains at the Vice. 1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 221 But, lest you should be alarm'd, if I don't come home by Ten, don't expect me. 1795 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 796 But owre my left shouther I gae him a blink, Least neebors might say I was saucy. 1797 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) IV. 174 Nobody scarcely will venture to buy or draw bills, lest they should be paid there in depreciated currency. 1815 W. Taylor in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) II. 454 I did not like to write to you without the book at my elbow, least I should misremember. 1855 J. R. Leifchild Cornwall: Mines & Miners 262 Look to the Purser well, lest he look to himself too well. 1897 R. Kipling Recessional in Times 17 July 13/6 Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget—lest we forget! †b. lest that phr. Obsolete in the same sense. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > if, in case, or lest [conjunction] ifc825 lestc1000 waldOE anda1225 lest whena1300 in case1357 anc1400 lest thatc1400 the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > in provision against the case that [conjunction] lestc1000 lest thatc1400 c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 43 Nouȝt to hot a medycine, leste þat he make þe lyme toswellyn. 1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 8204 Lyst that she were wroth with me, I suffrede. 1493 Chastysing Goddes Chyldern (de Worde) ii. sig. Aiij/2 Leest y^t ye lese him in your owne defawte. 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 115 Least that the difficultie of the thing mighte somwhat discouragie you, I will [etc.]. †c. lest when phr. = Latin nequando: lest at any time. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > if, in case, or lest [conjunction] ifc825 lestc1000 waldOE anda1225 lest whena1300 in case1357 anc1400 lest thatc1400 the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > in provision against the case that [conjunction] > at any time lest whena1300 a1300 E.E. Psalter ii. 12 Gripes lare, leswhen [L. nequando] lauerd wrethide be. a1340 R. Rolle Psalter cxxxix. 9 Forsake me noght leswhen [L. ne forte] þai be heghid. 2. Used after verbs of fearing, or phrases indicating apprehension or danger, to introduce a clause expressing the event that is feared; equivalent to the Latin nē, and in English often admitting of being replaced by that (without accompanying negative). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > if, in case, or lest [conjunction] ifc825 lestc1000 waldOE anda1225 lest whena1300 in case1357 anc1400 lest thatc1400 c1000 Ælfric Genesis xxxii. 11 For þam þe ic hine [Esau] swiðe ondræde, þe læs þe he cume and ofslea þas modra mid hiora cildum. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 10415 Þe king was nei for drede wod..Laste þe king of fraunce & mansing him ssolde ssende. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 953 He was a-drad to þe deþ last sche him dere wold. ?a1400 Arthur 289 We dowteþ last he wel do soo, For he ys Myghty know þer-too. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxii. 214 My hert trymbleth for fere leest he be deed. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cclxix^v There is daunger, lest or euer they be ready, the enemy wyl haue inuaded his countrey. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 95 A reuerend feir..leist thay offend in things of honestie. 1653 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees 42 All the danger is, least we take too much liberty herein. 1750 H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 316 Lady Catherine grew frightened, lest her infanta should vex herself sick. 1823 F. Clissold Narr. Ascent Mont Blanc 20 I felt a strong inclination to sleep, and feared lest I should drop down. 1881 Punch 29 Oct. 198 Fearing lest they should succumb. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online September 2021). < conj.c1000
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