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Lest is a neat word. I know what it means, but had difficulty in trying to verbally define it or explain it.
Dictionary definitions:
"for fear that; so that (one) should not (used negatively to introduce a clause expressive of an action or occurrence requiring caution)"
"so as to prevent any possibility that"
"with the intention of preventing (something undesirable); to avoid the risk of"
That's quite an impressive conveyance of meaning for such a small 4-letter word.
Etymology: from "whereby less that"
Dictionary definitions:
"for fear that; so that (one) should not (used negatively to introduce a clause expressive of an action or occurrence requiring caution)"
"so as to prevent any possibility that"
"with the intention of preventing (something undesirable); to avoid the risk of"
That's quite an impressive conveyance of meaning for such a small 4-letter word.
Etymology: from "whereby less that"