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35,981 English word records · 45,491 etymology sections in this online subset
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lestEnglish (en) · Unnumbered etymologySource text
c. 1200, contracted from Middle English les te (“less that”), from Old English þȳ lǣs þe (“whereby less that”), from þȳ (instrumental case of demonstrative article þæt (“that”)) + lǣs (“less”) + þe (“that,” relative particle). The þȳ was dropped and the remaining two words contracted into leste.
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Mayhew–Skeat (1888)
1888; pinned HTML transcription updated October 28, 2024- LestMiddle English · word_lest_sb_1
Lest, sb. desire, C2; see Lust.
Read the full source record → - LestMiddle English · word_lest_sb_2
Lest, sb. fault, SD; see Last.
Read the full source record → - LestMiddle English · word_lest_vb_1
Lest, pr. s. it pleases, PP; pt. s., PP; see Lusten.
Read the full source record → - LestMiddle English · word_lest_vb_2
Lest, pr. s. loses, S2; see Lesen.
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