Where does “lest” come from?

lest (Romanian) comes from French lest, 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 (Romanian): ballast

Definitions

  1. ballast

Ancestry of “lest”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchlestdead weight; ballast
2Old Frenchlast—
3Old Dutchlast—
4Proto-Germanichlastuzload, burden, cargo, freight
5Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂-to put; to lay out
6Proto-Indo-Europeankelh₂-to beat; to break
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlastuz →