Meaning

2 senses

  1. (formal, literary)For fear that; that not; in order to prevent something from happening; in case.

    He won't go outside, lest he be eaten by those ravenous eagles.

    I brought my notes lest faulty memory lead me astray.

    fürchtend, dass, in der Furcht, dass, bevor

    из страха, что, чтобы не

    боячи́сь, щоbojačýsʹ, ščo, аби́ ... неabý ... ne, щоб ... неščob ... ne

  2. (formal, literary)That (without the negative particle; introduces the reason for an emotion.)

    There was danger/alarm lest the plan become known.

    I am afraid lest I revealed too much.

    щоščo

Examples

57 sentences

  1. Judge not lest ye be judged.

    Не судіть і не судимі будете.

    ruНе судите, да не судимы будете.

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  2. Put on your coat lest you should catch a cold.

    Вдягни пальто, щоб не застудитися.

    ruНадень пальто, чтобы не простудиться.

    deZieh einen Mantel an, um dich nicht zu erkälten.

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  3. Work quietly lest you disturb others.

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  4. Take care lest you should fall.

    ruБудь осторожней, а то упадёшь.

    dePass auf, dass du nicht hinfällst.

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  5. Beware lest you should miss the train.

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Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 3
for fear that:
that … not:
that (without the negative particle):
Русский
By meaning 2
for fear that:
that … not:
Deutsch
By meaning 2
for fear that:
that … not:

Origin

c. 1200, contracted from Middle English les te (“less that”), from Old English þȳ lǣs þe (

c. 1200, contracted from Middle English les te (“less that”), from Old English þȳ lǣs þe (“whereby less that”), from þȳ (instrumental case of demonstrative article þæt (“that”)) + lǣs (“less”) + þe (“that,” relative particle). The þȳ was dropped and the remaining two words contracted into leste.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Synonyms

1 synonyms
beforeA2

Word family

1 related words
Relatedin case

Lessons for this word

1 lessons

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
lessenB1lesserlessonA1letA1lethal
lest — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto