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Left vs Lest - What's the difference?

left | lest |

As a noun left

is air.

As a conjunction lest is

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

left

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) left, luft, leoft, lift, lyft, from (etyl) left, . More at (l), (l).

Adjective

  • The opposite of right; toward the west when one is facing north.
    • Turn left at the corner.
  • (politics) pertaining to the political left; liberal.
    • Synonyms
    * left-hand * sinister * sinistral
    Antonyms
    * right
    Derived terms
    * left-hand * left-handed * left wing * two left feet

    Adverb

    (-)
  • On the left side.
  • Towards the left side.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The left side or direction.
  • (politics) The ensemble of left-wing political parties. Those holding left-wing views as a group.
    • The political left is not holding enough power.
  • (boxing) A punch delivered with the left fist.
    • Synonyms
    * (left side or direction) , port * (politics)
    Derived terms
    * lefty * to the left

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) left, variant of . More at leave.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (leave).
  • * , chapter=8
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=Afore we got to the shanty Colonel Applegate stuck his head out of the door. His temper had been getting raggeder all the time, and the sousing he got when he fell overboard had just about ripped what was left of it to ravellings.}}
  • Remaining.

    • Etymology 3

    From a verbal use of . More at leave.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (Ireland, colloquial) permitted, allowed to proceed.
    • We were not left go to the beach after school except on a weekend.

    References

    * The Concise Dictionary of English Etymology, Walter W. Skeat.

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * * 200 English basic words English contranyms English irregular past participles English irregular simple past forms 1000 English basic words

    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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