Where does “lest” come from?

lest (Czech) comes from Proto-Slavic lьstь, from Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃, from Proto-Germanic listiz, from Proto-Indo-European leys- — to trace, to track.

lest (Czech): trick, ruse; stratagem

Definitions

  1. trick, ruse; stratagem

Ancestry of “lest”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Slaviclьstьruse, decoy; flattery
2Gothic𐌻𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃a cunning plan, a scheme, a plot; a wile
3Proto-Germaniclistizart, craft; cunning, guile
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleys-to trace, to track

Words derived from “lest”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leys- →Every word from Proto-Germanic listiz →Every word from Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 →
lest — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer