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# lest

conjunction

«lest» in the English dictionary: Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Early Modern English

### Meaning

In case; to avoid the risk that something will happen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/L/lest/#m1)

### Then and now

Today we rarely use "lest"; we say "in case" or "so that … not". The sentences use the same sense, but the word is old.

### Examples

- lest when thou hast eaten and art satisfied, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; (Torah DEU.8.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/L/lest/#x1)
- Hasten, lest you should be too late!' (The Orange Fairy Book) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/L/lest/#x2)
- But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said: 'Lest peradventure harm befall him.' (Torah GEN.42.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/L/lest/#x3)

### Note

Today: so that … not; in case.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «lest» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/L/lest/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«lest» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/lest.html) on Mova free.