þy læs

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /θyː læːs/

Conjunction

þȳ lǣs

1. so that ... not: before, or else

   Þū sċealt dōn þætte þū meaht, þȳ lǣs þē hit lator hrēowe.

   You have to do what you can, so you don't regret it later.

   Spara ūs, Dryhten, spara þīnum folce, and ne sele þīn ierfe þām hǣðenum, þȳ lǣs hīe cweðen “Hwǣr is þāra cristenena god?”

   Spare us, Lord, spare your people, and don't give your inheritance to the pagans! Don't let them say, “Where is the god of the Christians?”

Usage notes

• Used with the subjunctive mood.

• In Late Old English, often occurs as þȳ lǣs þe.

Synonyms

• (or else): elles

Descendants

• Middle English: les te (from late variant þȳ lǣs þe)
  • English: lest