lest

Meanings

• subjunctive conjunction

  used to express a fear or apprehension that something unwanted may happen; 'I'll go if you go, but I'd rather stay home lest something happens'

  - "If I go, he might stay home lest something happens."
  - "She didn't attend the party lest she might run into her ex-husband."

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Pronunciation

1. /lɛst/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1676796"

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Synonyms

before

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with lest
rest , quest , nest

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Homophones

Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,

1. least () : the smallest in a group or series
   

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Variants

List of all variants of lest that leads to same result
lest , lest we forget

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English 'leastan' meaning 'to leave, abandon, or forsake'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'lest' is derived from Old English 'leastan', which meant 'to leave' or 'to abandon'.

2. In Middle English, 'lest' was used as a verb meaning 'to leave' or 'to forsake'.

3. The word 'lest' is a subjunctive conjunction, meaning it is used to express hypothetical situations and their potential consequences.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. conditional clause: A type of sentence expressing a hypothetical situation and its potential consequences, often containing 'lest'.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'lest' is often used to convey fear, apprehension, or caution. For example, in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth uses 'lest' to express her fear of being discovered: 'What if my lord were to know of my ladyship's disloyalty? Lest I should be found in some inconvenience.'

How to Memorize "lest"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize the 'l' and 'e' letters forming the word 'lest'. Imagine a 'l' that is leaning to the right, and the 'e' is attached to it like a small, curved tail. This will help you remember that 'lest' starts with 'l' and ends with 'est'.

2. associate
   

   - Associate 'lest' with the idea of fear or apprehension. Remember that 'lest' is used to express a fear that something unwanted might happen.
   - Another way to associate 'lest' is to think of it as a protective measure, like wearing a helmet 'lest' you fall off your bike.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic phrase like 'Lest I forget, I'll remember the meaning of this word'.

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Memorize "lest" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize lest is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

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