What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Lent vs Lest - What's the difference?

lent | lest |

As a verb lent

is past tense of lend.

As a proper noun Lent

is period of penitence for Christians before Easter.

As a conjunction lest is

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

lent

English

Verb

(head)
  • (lend)
    • ----

    lend

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) lende (usually in plural as lendes, leendes, lyndes), from (etyl) lendenu, .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l), (l) (Scotland) * (l) (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • The lumbar region; loin.
  • The loins; flank; buttocks.

    • Etymology 2

    From earlier len (with excrescent -d'', as in . See also (l).

    Verb

  • To allow to be used by someone temporarily, on condition that it or its equivalent will be ed.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838, page=71, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= End of the peer show , passage=Finance is seldom romantic. But the idea of peer-to-peer lending comes close. This is an industry that brings together individual savers and lenders on online platforms. Those that want to borrow are matched with those that want to lend .}}
  • To make a loan.
  • (reflexive) To be suitable or applicable, to fit.
  • To afford; to grant or furnish in general.
    • Can you lend me some assistance?
    The famous director lent his name to the new film.
  • * Addison
    • Cato, lend me for a while thy patience.
  • * J. A. Symonds
    • Mountain lines and distant horizons lend space and largeness to his compositions.
  • (proscribed) To borrow.
    • Antonyms
    * borrow
    Derived terms
    * lend to believe * have a lend
    See also
    * give back * lender * loan * pay back

    References

    * * English irregular verbs 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

    ----