lest
/lɛst
/conjunction formal
1With the intention of preventing (something undesirable); to avoid the risk of: he spent whole days in his room, wearing headphones lest he disturb anyone...
- As to this it is necessary to avoid misapprehension lest the protection be too limited.
- Those in attendance are asked not to look directly at the panelists, lest you disturb the mood.
- They are sent to sleep on the streets at night, lest they disturb the mother's business.
1.1(After a clause indicating fear) because of the possibility of something undesirable happening; in case: she sat up late worrying lest he be murdered on the way home...
- The economy suffers, as my sisters and brothers fear going to work lest they find a bullet in their mailbox.
- Portia immediately fell in love with him and feared lest he should choose the wrong box.
- If I had been less cautious I might have been more wise, but I was half crazy with fear lest you should learn the truth.
Synonyms
in case, just in case, for fear that, in order to avoid, to avoid the risk of
Usage
There are very few contexts in English where the subjunctive mood is, strictly speaking, required: lest remains one of them. Thus the standard use is she was worrying lest he be attacked (not lest he was ...) or she is using headphones lest she disturb anyone (not ... lest she disturbs anyone). See also subjunctive.
Origin
Old English thȳ lǣs the 'whereby less that', later the læste.