I. (ˈ)bət, usu -əd.+V conjunction
Etymology: Middle English, conjunction & preposition, from Old English būtan, būte, conjunction & preposition, without, except, outside; akin to Old Saxon būtan, biūtan without, except, Old High German būzan, biūzan; all from a prehistoric West Germanic compound whose first and second constituents respectively are the preposition represented by Old English be, bī by and the adverb represented by Old English ūtan outside, from outside, Old High German ūzana, ūzan, Old Norse ūtan, Gothic ūtana; derivative from the root of Old English ūt out — more at by , out
1.
a. : except for the fact — used to introduce a dependent clause
he would have protested but that he was afraid
b. : that — sometimes used more or less tautologically with that: used after negatives
there is no doubt but he was killed in the wreck
he did not question but that he would win
it is 10 to 1 but the challenger will lose
c. : without the concomitant that
it never rains but it pours
you cannot look into the index but you will find the word
d. : if not : unless
may I die but she is right
: if it were not true that
but my noble Moor is true of mind … it were enough to put him to ill thinking — Shakespeare
e. : that … not
there was never a new plan but someone objected to it
he was not so stupid but he could drive a hard bargain
it was impossible but he should notice it
a pity but we knew more about him
f.
(1) archaic : when , before : at the time that
(2) now substandard : than — used after no sooner
no sooner started but it stopped again
2.
a. : on the contrary : on the other hand : in opposition : notwithstanding — used to connect coordinate elements
not peace but a sword
not Smith but Smyth
not with haste but with caution
he was called but he did not answer
b. : despite the fact
he was commonly thought to be wealthy but he had no money
— sometimes used at the beginning of a separate sentence
the rebels' cause looked hopeless. But they received help from the provinces
and sometimes interpreted as an adverb when so used
c. : except : with the exception of — used before a word often taken to be the subject of a clause
whence all but he had fled — Felicia D. Hemans
none but the brave deserves the fair — John Dryden
d. — used with little meaning as a formal connective
all men are mortal but he is a man
e. — used in connection with interjectional expression to express a degree of restraining, countering, or modifying
heavens, but it rains
•
- but and
- but what
II. preposition
Etymology: Middle English, conjunction & preposition
1. Scotland
a. : without , lacking
touch not the cat but a glove — Motto of the Mackintoshes
b. : to or into the outer room of : outside
go but the house
2. : except:
a. : excluding, barring : with the exception of
there was no one left but me — R.L.Stevenson
wanting nothing but a little time
what could he do but protest
— see but I 2c
b. : other than : otherwise than : anything else than
this letter is nothing but an insult
who could fill the position but this man
how would he look but haggard
nothing would please him but that we go along
III. adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from but, conjunction & preposition
1. : only:
a.
(1) : no other or no more than indicated
he is but a child
(2) : more than
I never heard of but one man that survived such an experience
— often considered substand.
b. : without alternative : with no other choice
we could but listen to his plea
c. : no longer ago than
it happened but yesterday
he was here but five minutes ago
d. : merely
the presence of but a little poisonous gas
2. Scotland : to or into the outer room or kitchen of a house : outside , without — opposed to ben
3. : to the contrary — usually used with that beginning a following clause
who knows but that he may succeed
4. : definitely , positively , strongly , thoroughly : to a degree precluding doubt or reservation
get there but fast
IV. pronoun
Etymology: but (I)
: that not : who not
nobody but has his fault — Shakespeare
nothing indeed ever entered that little country but came out rejuvenated and clarified — Norman Douglas
V. adjective
Etymology: but (III)
Scotland : in the outer room or kitchen of a house : outer
VI. noun
( -s )
Scotland : the outer apartment of a house ; especially : the kitchen of a but-and-ben
VII.
variant of butt