Category:Unless

Un*less", conj. Etym: [formerly, onles, onlesse, onlesse that, that Is, in less, in a less case. See on, and less.]

Defn: 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.

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. Here nothing breeds unless the nightly owl. Shak.