unless

1. 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.

2. 2.If not; used with counterfactual conditionals.

   • Unless He were omnipotent, we could not be sure of His ability to bless us.
   • 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?

3. 3.Except if; used with hypothetical conditionals.

   • 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.
   • 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!

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Common· #1103

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