unless English · revision 3208

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1400}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ənˈles/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|unlesse]],^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) an alteration of earlier onlesse, originally the phrase on lesse (than), “on a less condition (than)”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) a compound, [[af|enm|on|lesse|t1=on|t2=less]].^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) Hoad says the phrase was modelled on French à moins que.^(Hoad 1986) The first syllable became un- because the word expresses negation and is unstressed, by association with the prefix [[un-]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a phrase, “on a less or lower condition than”: about 1400.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) Barnhart records onlesse in 1438 and unlesse in 1467,^(Barnhart 1988) and Etymonline dates the conjunction to the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In its early use the phrase was followed by than or that, uses now obsolete.^(OED 1989) As a conjunction meaning “except if, if not”, with the following conjunction left out, it is from 1509,^(OED 1989) and as a preposition, “except, but”, from 1531–32.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) The Century Dictionary noted that ''except'' could once be used as a synonym for ''unless'', but that the two had drawn apart, ''unless'' being only a conjunction.^(Etymonline) In Shetland Scots it appears as aless, and in Roxburghshire and Dumfriesshire as onless.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – on a less condition than.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1438 – onlesse.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1467 – unlesse.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1509 – conjunction, if not.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1531–32 – preposition, except.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # Except on the condition that; if not: ''we'll go unless it rains''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''(rare)'' Except; but.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[less]]

+ * [[except]]

+ * [[lest]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}