unless - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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-.[1]

unless

  1. Except on a specified condition; if not.
    I’m leaving unless I get a pay rise.
    You can't go out unless it stops raining.
    Unless part of the staff, you are not allowed beyond this point.
    • 1839, Denison Olmsted, A Compendium of Astronomy, page 95:
      Secondly, When a body is once in motion it will continue to move forever, unless something stops it. When a ball is struck on the surface of the earth, the friction of the earth and the resistance of the air soon stop its motion.
    • 1971, Dr. Seuss, The Lorax:
      Unless someone like you...cares a whole awful lot...nothing is going to get better...It's not.
  2. If not; used with counterfactual conditionals.
    • 1159, John of Salisbury, Policraticus, edited by Cary J. Nederman, Cambridge University Press, 1990, page 3 (Google Books view):
      Who would know of Alexander or Caesar, or would respect the Stoics or the Peripatetics, unless they had been distinguished by the memorials of writers?
    • 1867, William Robinson Pirie, Natural Theology: An Inquiry Into the Fundamental Principles of Religious, Moral, and Political Science, page 75 (Google Books view):
      Unless He were omnipotent, we could not be sure of His ability to bless us.
  3. Except if; used with hypothetical conditionals.
    • 1809, The Naval Chronicle for 1809: Containing a General and Biographical History of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom with a Variety of Original Papers on Nautical Subjects. Vol. XXII. (from July to December), Cambridge University Press, 2010, page 482 (Google Books view):
      Q. If Lieutenant P. had given the word "Fire," would you have fired, and at what?—A. I should not have known, unless he had told me what to fire at.
    • 1847, Emily Brontë, chapter III, in Wuthering Heights:
      Lie down and finish out the night, since you are here; but, for heaven's sake! don't repeat that horrid noise: nothing could excuse it, unless you were having your throat cut!
    • 1981, Arthur C. Danto, The Transfiguration of the Commonplace: A Philosophy of Art, page 118 (Google Books view):
      Suppose Breugel had done the whole painting with no legs. Then, titled as it is, it would be mystifying, unless someone were to say: the boy has fallen in the waters and they have closed over him, calm is restored, life goes on (as in The Israelites Crossing the Red Sea).

except on a specified condition

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “unless (conj.)”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.