lest
lest /l'est/
[CONJ]
If you do something lest something unpleasant should happen, you do it to try to prevent the unpleasant thing from happening. (FORMAL)
I was afraid to open the door lest he should follow me...
And, lest we forget, Einstein wrote his most influential papers while working as a clerk.
= in case
[CONJ]
If you do something lest something unpleasant should happen, you do it to try to prevent the unpleasant thing from happening. (FORMAL)
I was afraid to open the door lest he should follow me...
And, lest we forget, Einstein wrote his most influential papers while working as a clerk.
= in case