Where does “lest” come from?

lest (French) comes from Old French last, from Old Dutch last, from Proto-Germanic hlastuz, from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂- — to beat; to break.

lest (French): dead weight; ballast

Definitions

  1. dead weight; ballast

Ancestry of “lest”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlast—
2Old Dutchlast—
3Proto-Germanichlastuzload, burden, cargo, freight
4Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂-to put; to lay out
5Proto-Indo-Europeankelh₂-to beat; to break

Words derived from “lest”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlastuz →
lest — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer