lest

English

Pronunciation

• IPA: /lɛst/, SAMPA: /lEst/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛst

Conjunction

lest

1. For fear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not; in case.

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

2. That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension.

Usage notes

The word lest is always followed by the subjunctive mood, usually in either the present or future tense.

For example: Lest they be captured, the soldiers fled from the battlefield.

The future subjunctive would simply employ the auxiliary word should.

Synonyms

• (for fear that): before (informal)

See also

• judge not lest ye be judged
• in case
• lest we forget

Translations

for fear that

Arabic: خيفة أن  (ar) (kheefat an) French: de peur que Romanian: în caz că (ro)

Russian: из страха, что Slovene: da ne bi (sl) Spanish: por temor a que

that . . . not

Finnish: ettei (fi), jottei (fi) Hungarian: nehogy (hu)

Latin: nē (la) Russian: чтобы не, иначе

that (without the negative particle)

Latin: nē (la)

Romanian: care (ro)

Anagrams

• ELTs
• lets, let's, LETS
• TESL

---

Czech

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

Noun

lest f.

1. trick, ruse
2. stratagem

Derived terms

• lstivý

---

Dutch

Verb

lest

1. second- and third-person singular present indicative of lessen.
2. plural imperative of lessen.

---

French

Etymology

From Dutch last

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

• IPA: /lɛst/, SAMPA: /lEst/

Noun

lest m. (plural lests)

1. dead weight; ballast

Derived terms

• lester

Anagrams

• tels

---

German

Verb

lest

1. imperative plural of lesen

---

Icelandic

Noun

lest f.

1. train (line of connected cars or carriages)

This Icelandic entry was created from the translations listed at train. It may be less reliable than other entries, and may be missing parts of speech or additional senses. Please also see lest in the Icelandic Wiktionary. This notice will be removed when the entry is checked. (more information) October 2009