lest

[Mher]

What does lest mean here? Could you, please, rephrase that part of the sentence?
"In fact, I no longer dared trust myself out of the immediate presence of those who were aware of my proneness to catalepsy, lest, falling into one of my usual fits, I should be buried before my real condition could be ascertained."

 

[Tarheel]

In the event that he fell into one of his fits, he didn't want to be buried while he was still alive.

www.dictionary.com

 

[probus]

"Lest" is rarely heard in AmE. In BrE I think it is almost synonymous with unless. I would be grateful if native speakers of BrE would teach me the difference.

 

[Tarheel]

It's probably true that "lest" isn't heard often in AmE, but it would nevertheless be easily understood.

 

[Mher]

"Lest" is rarely heard in AmE. In BrE I think it is almost synonymous with unless. I would be grateful if native speakers of BrE would teach me the difference.

Interestingly enough, Poe was an American.

It's probably true that "lest" isn't heard often in AmE, but it would nevertheless be easily understood.

Of course, the meaning is easy enough to understand. I just want to make sure that I do not deviate from what Poe means in no degree. It is more about my psychology than the understanding of word meanings. I am always striving after perfection.

 

[Tarheel]

We may strive for perfection, but it is rarely achieved.

 

[Mher]

We may strive for perfection, but it is rarely achieved.

I would say it is never achieved. ;-)

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Lest is American, but it doesn't mean unless. It expresses caution:

Judge not, lest you yourself be judged.

Or as Bob Dylan put it: ...and keep your judgement to yourself, lest you wind up on this road.