Unless

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Unless \Un*less"\, conj. [Formerly, onles, onlesse, onlesse
     that, that is, in less, in a less case. See {On}, and
     {Less}.]
     Upon any less condition than (the fact or thing stated in the
     sentence or clause which follows); if not; supposing that
     not; if it be not; were it not that; except; as, we shall


     fail unless we are industrious.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: By the omission of the verb in the dependent clause,
           unless was frequently used prepositionally, -- a
           construction common in Shakespeare and still employed
           colloquially.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 Here nothing breeds unless the nightly owl.
                                                    --Shak.
           [1913 Webster]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  26 Moby Thesaurus words for "unless":
     aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides, but, ex, except,
     except for, except that, excepting, excluding, exclusive of,
     if not, leaving out, let alone, omitting, outside of, precluding,
     save, save and except, saving, than, unless that, were it not,
     without