lest
in order that something should not happen
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,612 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 11,225 times across 139,755 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.
What it means
conjunction
- in order that something should not happen
lest in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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He trembled lest he had offended her.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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Oh how I fear lest absent Jove should love her!
Elizabethan Sonnet Cycles: Phillis - Licia · Martha Foote [Editor] Crow · Chapter 1
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I pray, will you go to bed then, Lest you be blasted?
The White Devil · John Webster · Chapter 1
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And he did not dare to say more, lest by some careless word he might provoke an unpremeditated opposition.
The Brook Kerith: A Syrian story · George Moore · Chapter 1
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Mr. Burton thanked her and withdrew, lest Mr. Stiles should follow him up before apprised of his sudden promotion.
Admiral Peters Odd Craft, Part 14. · W. W. (William Wymark) Jacobs · Chapter 1