LEST


Meaning of LEST in English

I. ˈlest conjunction

Etymology: Middle English lest the, leste, lest, from Old English thȳ lǣs the, from thȳ (instrumental of thæt this, that, which) + lǣs, adjective, less + the, relative particle — more at that , less

1. : for fear that : so that (one) should not

prefer a man who acts decisively … rather than one who hesitates lest he be guilty of imprudence — C.B.Kelland

2. : that — used after an expression denoting fear to introduce the cause of apprehension

live in daily apprehension lest the wholesome sons and daughters whom they commit to a college return to them as brazen fools — W.L.Sullivan

II.

archaic

variant of least

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.