unless

Meanings

1. 1
   conj

   Except if; used to say something will happen if a condition is not met.

   I'm leaving unless I get a pay rise.

From Middle English unlesse, earlier on lesse (modern on + less), from (not) on lesse (than) (“(not) on a less compelling condition (than)”). The quality of negation in the word and the lack of stress changed on to un-.

Topics