Else vs Lest - What's the difference?
else | lest |
Other; in addition to previously mentioned items.
Otherwise, if not.
For otherwise; or else.
(computing, in many programming languages and pseudocode) but if the condition of the previous (if) clause is false, do the following.
For fear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not; in case.
* '>citation
* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-27, volume=408, issue=8846, magazine=(The Economist)
, title= That (without the negative particle); – after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension.
*
, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4
, passage=Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.}}
As conjunctions the difference between else and lest
is that else is for otherwise; or else while lest is for fear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not; in case.As an adjective else
is other; in addition to previously mentioned items.As an adverb else
is otherwise, if not.else
English
Adjective
(-)- Can anyone else (=any other person) help me?
- What else (=what other thing) is there?
Usage notes
* This adjective usually follows an indefinite or interrogative pronoun, as in the examples above. In other cases, the adjective (other) is typically used.Derived terms
* anybody else * anyone else * anyplace else * anything else * anywhere else * elsewhere * elsewhither * everybody else * everyone else * everyplace else * everything else * everwhere else * nobody else * no one else * no place else * nothing else * nowhere else * something else * somewhere else * what else is newAdverb
(-)- How else (=in what other way) can it be done?
- I'm busy Friday; when else (=what other time) works for you?
Usage notes
* (otherwise) This word frequently follows interrogative adverbs, such as (how), (why), and (when), as well as the derived (however), (why ever), and (whenever).Synonyms
* otherwiseDerived terms
* or elseConjunction
(English Conjunctions)- Then the Wronskian of ''f'' and ''g'' must be nonzero, else they could not be linearly independent.
- if (edits.Count == 0) { NoEditsLabel.Visible = true; }
- else { EditHistory.Show(edits); }
See also
* and * if * not * or * thenStatistics
*Anagrams
* (l), (l), (l), (l), (l) 1000 English basic words ----lest
English
Conjunction
(English Conjunctions)Lunacy?, passage=Lest any astrologer reading this result get cocky, Dr Cajochen does not believe that what he has found is directly influenced by the Moon through, say, some tidal effect. What he thinks he has discovered is an additional hand on the body’s clock-face.}}