lest

B2 CET-4 大学 FREQ #13100 ★☆☆☆☆

conj. 以免, 唯恐, 免得

发音

US /lɛst/
其它 /lɛst/
其它 /lɛːst/

教材释义与例句

连词

唯恐，以免；担心

释义与例句

conj. B2
  1. 1.

    For fear that; that not; in order to prevent something from happening; in case.

    以免

    正式 文学

    He won't go outside, lest he be eaten by those ravenous eagles.

    I brought my notes lest faulty memory lead me astray.

  2. 2.

    that (without the negative particle; introduces the reason for an emotion.)

    正式 文学

    There was danger/alarm lest the plan become known.

    I am afraid lest I revealed too much.

相关短语

lest we forget judge not, lest ye be judged judge not, that ye be not judged

词源

c. 1200, contracted from Middle English les te (“less that”), from Old English þȳ lǣs þe (“whereby less that”), from þȳ (instrumental case of demonstrative article þæt (“that”)) + lǣs (“less”) + þe (“that,” relative particle). The þȳ was dropped and the remaining two words contracted into leste.

来源：wiktionary