lest

conjunction

/lest/

(formal or literary)

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in order to prevent something from happening免得；以免
- He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob.他紧抓着他弟弟的胳膊，怕他让暴民踩着。
- Lest anyone should doubt my story, I have brought documents to attest to its truth.以免有人怀疑我的故事，我带来了文件来证明它的真实性。
Lest usually takes a verb in the subjunctive Lest anyone doubt my story… • Lest anyone doubts my story… • Lest anyone doubted my story… It is also acceptable to use should Lest anyone should doubt my story…
used to introduce the reason for the particular emotion mentioned（引出产生某种情感的原因）唯恐，担心
- She was afraid lest she had revealed too much.她担心她泄露得太多了。

Word OriginOld English thȳ lǣs the ‘whereby less that’, later the læste.