THE MAN WAS CAREFUL (EXCEPT,LEAST) HE SHOULD FALL
The man was careful lest he should fall.
‘Lest’ (not ‘least’) is similar in meaning to to ‘unless’/‘otherwise’.
Hi Ganesh,
‘Lest’ has in fact two meanings. The first is used in the sense of fearing that something might happen and the second is used in a negative sense suggesting so that it doesn’t happen.
An example of the first: You need to change your tyres in the winter with a rear wheel drive car lest you skid.
An example of the second is: Lest you think I’m not telling the truth, I suggest you look it up in a grammar book.
Alan
The man was careful but for that he should have fallen down the ground.
?
No, that’s not an explanation of ‘lest’.
Alan