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Lect vs Lest - What's the difference?

lect | lest |

As a noun lect

is a specific form of a language or language cluster: a language or a dialect.

As a conjunction lest is

for fear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not; in case.

lect

English

(wikipedia lect)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (linguistics, sociolinguistics) A specific form of a language or : a language or a dialect.
  • * 1980 , Frederick B. Agard, The Genealogy of the French Language'', published in ''Contributions to historical linguistics (ISBN 90-04-06130-4), page 222:
  • These, together with (some) Romansh lects', belong to our West Rhaetian; the /?/ also supported by two '''lects''' from the Ticino which by our criteria are NWIt, and by the partially umlauting '''lects''' of Lombardy which together with (some) Engadine ' lects belong to our East Rhaetian.

    Usage notes

    The term is used when it is not possible or preferable to decide whether something is a distinct language or only a dialect of a language.

    Synonyms

    * variety

    Derived terms

    * lectal

    lest

    English

    Conjunction

    (English Conjunctions)
  • 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= 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.}}
  • 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.}}

    Usage notes

    The word lest is always followed by the , usually in either the present or future tense. For example: Lest they be captured, the soldiers fled from the battlefield. The future subjunctive would simply employ the auxiliary word should .

    Synonyms

    * (for fear that) (informal)

    See also

    * judge not lest ye be judged * in case * lest we forget

    Anagrams

    * * *

    References

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