From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
Meanings
Apart from, except (for), excluding.
Nobody answered the door when I knocked, so I had no choice but to leave.
Everyone but Father left early.
In all games but one. 2011, Scott Sigler, The All-Pro, BookBaby:
I like everything but that.
Luiz struggled with the movement of Helguson in the box, as he collected a long ball and the Spaniard barged him over, leaving referee Chris Foy little option but to point to the spot. 2011 October 23, Becky Ashton, “QPR 1-0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 16 Jan 2012:
From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
Meanings
(literary, not-comparable, poetic) Merely, only, just, no more than.
Christmas comes but once a year, so we can but wait till then.
In those days, when my hands were much employed, I read but little, but the least scraps of paper which lay on the ground, my holder, or tablecloth, afforded me as much entertainment, in fact answered the same purpose as the Iliad. 1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC:
[…] if they kill vs, we shall but die. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Kings 7:4:
May the Protector of the Buddhist Faith grant me but seven more days grace of life to be quit of this disloyal couple, father and son. 1990, Claude de Bèze, translated by E. W. Hutchinson, 1688 revolution in Siam: the memoir of Father de Bèze, s.j, University Press, page 153:
Black Knight: "'Tis but a scratch." King Arthur: "A scratch? Your arm's off!" 1975, Monty Python, Monty Python and the Holy Grail:
Now the Wicked Witch of the West had but one eye, yet that was as powerful as a telescope, and could see everywhere. 1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC:
For to see her was to love her,
Love but her, and love for ever. 1791, Robert Burns, Ae Fond Kiss:
The stony outcrops are often covered but thinly with arable soil; winters are bitingly cold, and rainfall scanty and unpredictable. 1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 49:
"Supposin' the chap ain't dead, but?" Regan persisted. 1906, "Steele Rudd", Back At Our Selection, page 161:
‘I didn’t like that sheila that tried to latch onto him, but.’ 1982, Paul Radley, My Blue-Checker Corker and Me, Sydney: Fontana/Collins, page 16:
I'll have to go home early but.
(not-comparable) Used to repeat an adverb for emphasis; simply; just; absolutely.
The Nobel prize for literature is announced tomorrow lunchtime so it's time for the usual annual guessing game here on the Books desk, safe in the knowledge that we always, but always, get it wrong. 2009 October 7, Michelle Pauli, “Who will win the Nobel prize for literature?”, in The Guardian:
“I would never,” said Joan, as she backed the car and worked on the wheel, “but never have allowed my child to go abroad with that old Lesbian.” 1957 March 7, Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 6.11, in Pnin, Heinemann, page 166:
From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
Meanings
However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).
She is very old but still attractive.
She’s welcomed them but been rude to us.
You told me I could do that, but she said that I could not.
On the contrary, rather (as a regular adversative conjunction, introducing a word or clause in contrast or contradiction with the preceding negative clause or sentence).
I am not rich but [I am] poor. Not John but Peter went there.
It’s not so much that we don’t wanna go, but I just haven’t time.
(colloquial) Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.
Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits.
Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found. 2013 July 19, Ian Sample, “Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 34:
But I never said you could do that!
Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee. 2013 June 29, “Travels and travails”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 55:
In reality, I apprehend every amorous widow on the stage would run the hazard of being condemned as a servile imitation of Dido, but that happily very few of our play-house critics understand enough of Latin to read Virgil. 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume IV, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book X:
Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, (archaic) with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".
In those days, when my hands were much employed, I read but little, but the least scraps of paper which lay on the ground, my holder, or tablecloth, afforded me as much entertainment, in fact answered the same purpose as the Iliad. 1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC:
A deadly silence step by step increased,
Until it seem'd a horrid presence there,
And not a man but felt the terror in his hair. 1819, John Keats, “Lamia”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, →OCLC, part II, page 43:
There is no reason but hath another contrary unto it, saith the wisest party of Philosophers. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 15, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd— 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
I cannot but feel offended.
My kid does nothing but watch TV all day.
And but my noble Moor is true of mind
[…] it were enough to put him to ill thinking. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:
(colloquial) Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.
Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade / Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made / People passing by, they would stop and say / "Oh, my, but that little country boy could play" 1958 March 31, Chuck Berry, “Johnny B. Goode”, performed by Chuck Berry:
Wow! But that's amazing!
"Jakers, but we worked." With a long breath she shut her eyes. "But it was too much for one woman and a half-grown girl […]" 2013, Nora Roberts, Irish Thoroughbred, Little, Brown, →ISBN, page 25:
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet? / Ooh, but they're so spaced out / B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets / Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful / Oh, Bennie, she's really keen 1974 February 4, “Bennie and the Jets”, in Elton John (lyrics), Bernie Taupin (music), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, performed by Elton John, Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson, track 3:
(archaic) Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).
For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
It never rains but it pours
No arboret with painted blossomes drest, / And smelling sweet, but there it might be found […] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
I never hear this song but I think of you.
(obsolete) Except with; unless with; without.
This man unable to manage his own happineſſe, grew ſo inſolent that he could not go, but either ſpurning his equals, or trampling on his inferiours. 1639, Thomas Fuller, “Unseasonable Discords betwixt King Baldwine and His Mother; Her Strength in Yeelding to Her Sonne”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of Cambridge [and sold by John Williams, London], →OCLC, book II, page 84:
(obsolete) Only; solely; merely.
Observe but how their own principles combat one another. 1641 May, John Milton, Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England: And the Causes that hitherto have Hindred it. […], [London]: […] Thomas Vnderhill, →OCLC:
a formidable man but to his friends 1717, John Dryden [et al.], “(please specify |book=I to XV)”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
(obsolete) Until.
'Tshall not be long but I'll be here again. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
(obsolete, qualifier:following a negated expression of improbability) That.
It is not improbable but future observations will add Pliny's Well to the class of irregular reciprocators. 1813 July, Journal of Natural Philosophy:
“I am convinced, if you were to press this matter earnestly upon her, she would consent.”
“It is not impossible but she might,” said Madame de Seidlits […]. 1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 132:
It is not impossible but next year I may have the honour of waiting on your Lordship at St. Asaph, If I go to Ireland I certainly will go that way. 1784, Joshua Reynolds, edited by John Ingamells and John Edgcumbe, The Letters of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Yale, published 2000, page 131:
ko 그러나 (although) · nan-hbl 不過 /不过 (although) · shn သေလၵ်း (although) · ru но (although) · ar إِلَّا (except) · ja しかし (although) · id namun (rather) · cmn 除了……以外 (except) · uk а (rather) · gd ach (except) · hi पर (although) · orv нъ (rather) · kl -li (except) · kmr feqet (except) · ka არამედ (rather) · wlc ɓe (rather) · iu -li (rather) · sv fast (although) · br met (rather) · nan-hbl 不而過 /不而过 (although) · hu hanem (rather) · hu csupán (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ce амма (rather) · zza nara (although) · it però (although) · br met (although) · km ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ (although) · he בְּרַם (although) · pac ncốh ma (although) · zza nara (except) · bg а́ма (although) · hu viszont (rather) · az çıxmaqla (except) · de nur (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · mh ma (although) · hu pusztán (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ja けど (although) · shn ပွႆးၸိုင် (although) · rom tha' (although) · el μολονότι (although) · ur مَگَر (rather) · wlc walakini (although) · rap pero (although) · ca mas (although) · sh сем (except) · ko 그러나 (rather) · ru а (rather) · kgp hã ra (rather) · sw bali (rather) · cs ale (rather) · es aunque (although) · kmr ema (except) · caq höng (although) · fr ne...que (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · fa-ira امَّا (rather) · lt tik (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ps لېکن (although) · cy er (although) · th แต่ว่า (although) · th แต่ (although) · ar لٰكِن (although) · cmn 不過 /不过 (rather) · shn သီႈတႄႉ (although) · kn ಆದರೆ (although) · ajp لكن (rather) · is heldur (rather) · de sondern (rather) · lv taču (rather) · yue 但係 /但系 (although) · es excepto (except) · arz بس (although) · iu -raluaq- (although) · acw لكن (rather) · km ប៉ុន្តែ (although) · ce -ахь (although) · kl -raluar (although) · bn কিন্তু (although) · arz بس (rather) · nv ndi (rather) · tg гарчи (although) · ms tetapi (rather) · tr lakin (although) · fa-ira مَگَر (rather) · fa-ira لیکِن (although) · et peale (except) · ce -оцург (except) · tr başka (except) · kbd ауэ (although) · ru хоть (although) · km តែ (although) · bo ཡིན་ན་ཡང (although) · it tuttavia (although) · eo krom (except) · nl echter (rather) · mn биш, харин (rather) · tg вале (rather) · kmr lê (although) · km ដែរ (rather) · sh ȁma (although) · mk туку (rather) · bg оба́че (although) · fr mais (although) · fa-ira مَگَر (except) · th แต่ (rather) · ka გარდა (except) · kl -kaluar (although) · id tetapi (rather) · fa-ira بِجُز (except) · oc franc (except) · fi vaan (rather) · ja だけ (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · mk а́ма (although) · ro în afară de (except) · ar وَلٰكِنْ (rather) · sl àmpak (rather) · ce -ам (although) · lo ແຕ່ (although) · kl -galuar (although) · eo sed (although) · uz lekin (rather) · cmn 可是 (rather) · de außer (except) · fi mutta (rather) · yi אָבער (although) · eu salbu (except) · ajp بسّ (rather) · pt mas (although) · mt mingħajr (except) · cmn 而 (rather) · pac kếh ma (although) · hi लेकिन (rather) · id tapi (except) · sa तु (rather) · hi लेकिन (although) · ja けれど (although) · mt imma (rather) · az ancaq (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ca però (rather) · shn သေတႄႉ (although) · my သို့ရာတွင် (rather) · vo ab (although) · gl somente (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ang ah (rather) · ps اما (although) · ar إلَّا (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · hi परंतु (rather) · lo ແຕ່ (rather) · fr que (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · bg ала́ (rather) · fr sauf (except) · vi nhưng (rather) · mn харин (rather) · pac nki ma (although) · eu izan ezik (except) · eu baina (rather) · lt nors (rather) · ce амма (although) · tt ә (rather) · zu kodwa (rather) · be а (rather) · hsb ale (although) · pl ale (although) · lt vos (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ary ولكن (rather) · de aber (although) · eo sed (rather) · fa-ira وَلی (rather) · tr ama (although) · ale -tagali- (although) · ang būtan (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ps مګر (although) · hy բացի (except) · ar لٰكِنَّ (although) · ro însă (although) · ik -li (rather) · nl behalve (except) · lij ma (although) · hy բայց (although) · eu nahiz eta (although) · cmn 但是 (rather) · kk бірақ (although) · sk len (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ga ach (rather) · fr mais (rather) · ko -외에 (except) · esu taugaam (rather) · aeb آمَا (rather) · nan-hbl 無過 /无过 (although) · ajp لكن (although) · yue 不過 /不过 (although) · ga ach (although) · gl inda que (although) · ast pero (although) · tt әмма (rather) · tr fakat (although) · fr seulement (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · el παρόλο (although) · oc levat (except) · et kuid (although) · moh nek tsi (although) · lt tačiau (although) · ru лишь (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · tg лекин (although) · gl magar (although) · ru хотя́ (although) · it a parte (except) · zdj lakini (although) · st empa (although) · el με εξαίρεση (except) · ast pero (rather) · yi אָבער (rather) · ru то́лько (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · af maar (although) · haw akā (rather) · gl pero (rather) · et a (although) · la tamen (although) · tg аммо (although) · fa-ira وَلی (although) · grc δέ (rather) · ja しか (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · oc manca (except) · shi macc (mish) (although) · kmr bes (although) · lv taču (although) · ar لٰكِن (rather) · pt salvo (except) · ur لیکِن (rather) · bo ཡིན་ན་ཡང (rather) · ps منګر (although) · ms tetapi (although) · ms kecuali (except) · az lakin (although) · ky бирок (rather) · hy այլ (rather) · af behalwe (except) · eo tamen (rather) · ar سِوًى (except) · pl chociaż (although) · ca mes (although) · mfe me (although) · id tapi (although) · es salvo (except) · ang ac (rather) · tl kundi (rather) · ga ach (except) · caq lā (although) · id tetapi (except) · eu baina (although) · gl porén (although) · ja じゃなく (rather) · hu csak (except) · is en (although) · gl malia que (although) · et ent (rather) · cop ⲁⲗⲗⲁ (rather) · cy heblaw am (rather) · fi paitsi (except) · mk освен (except) · as কিন্তু (rather) · la ast (although) · ady ау (although) · ik aglaan (rather) · nb bortsett fra (except) · az fəqət (although) · ja けれども (although) · nl maar (rather) · ps ولې (although) · ar مَا عَدَا (except) · mt minbarra (except) · kmr meger (except) · kha hynrei (although) · tr ancak (although) · ko -지만 (although) · ale tax̂ (rather) · es mas (although) · tg лекин (rather) · uz ammo (rather) · ka მაგრამ (although) · ce -ш (rather) · ro doar (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · el εκτός (except) · ale taĝa (rather) · tg агарчи (although) · he אַךְ (although) · gu પણ (although) · nb men (although) · mhr а (except) · ur اَگَرْچِہ (although) · da men (rather) · gl maxer (although) · pl ale (rather) · pl oprócz (except) · az lakin (rather) · it eccetto (except) · nb foruten (except) · it però (rather) · lt nors (although) · ang ac (although) · ro ci (rather) · pac ma (although) · nb men (rather) · nan-hbl 為着 (except) · pt exceto (except) · sl tóda (although) · ur لیکِن (although) · pnt κι̮άρ’ (rather) · uk але́ (although) · bn কিন্তু (rather) · got 𐌰𐌺 (although) · yue 除咗……以外 (except) · ca però (although) · st ha e se (except) · sk len (except) · tr ama (rather) · sv förutom (except) · es sólo (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ru кро́ме (except) · tly ولی (rather) · ar وَلٰكِنَّ (although) · ajp بسّ (although) · ja 以外 (except) · oc mas (rather) · be але́ (although) · fr mis à part (except) · cmn 可是 (although) · lou mé (although) · swb ɓadi (although) · yue 但係 /但系 (rather) · ce бен (except) · el καίτοι (although) · ru лишь (except) · fy mar (rather) · zza labelê (diq) (rather) · as পাচে (rather) · be акрамя́ (except) · acw بس (although) · dsb ale (although) · ar وَلٰكِن (although) · lv bet (rather) · nmn gúʻni tshòo (although) · acw لكن (although) · la at (although) · da undtagen (except) · gl eigo (except) · dlm mui (rather) · mt iżda (although) · ru но (rather) · sq por (rather) · shn ပွႆးလၵ်း (although) · haw akā (although) · sh ȁli (although) · ckb بەڵام (rather) · iu -galuaq- (although) · cmo តីស (although) · ja でも (although) · sw walakini (rather) · sl čepràv (although) · hy սակայն (although) · yue 不過 /不过 (rather) · gl inanque (although) · tg вале (although) · it tranne (except) · da uden (except) · fa-ira لیکَن (although) · da men (although) · yue 而 (rather) · vi nhưng (although) · he אוּלָם (although) · kl kisianni (rather) · kmr ema (although) · cmo មពោៈ (although) · nan-hbl 毋過 /毋过 (although) · nan-hbl 總是 /总是 (although) · fa-ira اَگَرْچِه (although) · aeb آمَا (although) · hu mindössze (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · arz لكن (although) · my သို့ပေမဲ့ (rather) · ja ではなく (rather) · he אֲבָל (although) · io ma (although) · sw lakini (although) · it salvo (except) · ca mas (rather) · nl maar (although) · uk крім (except) · fr à part (except) · rap pero (rather) · fa-ira لیکَن (rather) · sk ale (rather) · hu de (rather) · hi मगर (rather) · acw بس (rather) · gd ach (although) · nb unntatt (except) · sk okrem (except) · ar إلا (except) · sh а̏ли (although) · hy թեեւ (although) · ce -ехь (although) · be але́ (rather) · bho लेकिन (although) · ur بس (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · de aber nicht (except) · kmr feqet (although) · nb enn (except) · es pero (although) · vi mà (although) · iu -kaluaq- (although) · sv men (although) · fr en dehors de (except) · km ចៀសតែ (except) · fo men (rather) · pam nune (rather) · mn гэхдээ (although) · tg аммо (rather) · ang būtan (except) · az başqa (except) · es mas (except) · fy mar (except) · zza la (diq) (except) · kmr lê (rather) · az amma (although) · hak 毋過 /毋过 (although) · el πλην (except) · ale -ĝdagali- (although) · hu csak (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · zza teyna (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · sh sem (except) · cs vyjma (except) · gl namais (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ce тӏаккха (although) · de aber (rather) · zza nara (rather) · nmn xàbēkà (although) · sh već (rather) · ja が (although) · pt porém (rather) · dlm mui (although) · zdj sha (although) · lv bet (although) · es sino (rather) · sh већ (rather) · fo uttan (except) · he אֶלָּא (except) · ltg a (rather) · mk но (although) · it tuttavia (rather) · hu de (although) · eo escepte de (except) · cy ac eithrio (except) · mk но (rather) · ale -iiĝali- (although) · lt tačiau (rather) · shn ၵူၺ်းၵႃႈ (although) · az ancaq (although) · as পিচে (although) · pnt άμα (rather) · cmn 但是 (although) · sw lakini (rather) · ta ஆனால் (although) · kmr lê (except) · la autem (although) · it che (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · fo men (although) · ce а (rather) · az fəqət (rather) · ckb جگھ (except) · sh а̏ма (although) · fr cependant (although) · ml പക്ഷേ (although) · id kecuali (although) · de aber trotzdem (although) · gun ha'e rã (although) · ru то́лько (although) · ce делахь (although) · lt bet (rather) · bg но (rather) · ar بَلْ (rather) · hu azonban (rather) · ce меттана (rather) · cmo ប្យាៈលាស (although) · vi nhưng mà (although) · cu нъ (rather) · tr fakat (rather) · gl xiquera (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · ary أما (rather) · id tetapi (although) · ca excepte (except) · nv ndi (although) · az savayı (except) · uz lekin (although) · orv але (rather) · fa-ira گَرْچِه (although) · bg но (although) · sh osim (except) · ce бен (solely, only, merely (obsolete)) · rcf mé (although) · ps وليکن (although)
From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
Meanings
An instance of using the word "but"; an objection or caveat.
The children are taught to be afraid of winter, of war, of death, of hard times, of disease, of examtinations. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that children so seldom find the conversation of their elders uplifting. It is full of don’ts, buts and nots. 1922 March 4, “Fed on Fear Too Much”, in The Pathfinder, volume 29, number 1470, Washington, D.C.: Pathfinder Publishing Company, page 33:
But - and this is a pretty important but - it's just as bad to eat the wrong thing before a workout as it is to eat nothing at all. 2018 September 17, Catriona Harvey-Jenner, “8 foods you should never eat before a workout”, in Cosmopolitan, New York, N.Y.: Hearst Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 Jan 2023:
"I support you/understand where you're coming from, but..." ¶ No. No "buts" when it comes to other people's survival. 2016 December 28, Concepcion de Leon, “5 Things Well-Meaning People Say to Me That Are Actually Really Offensive”, in Glamour, Greenwich, C.T.; […]: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 08 Feb 2023:
It has to be done—no ifs, ands, or buts.
But—and this is a big but—you have to come home by sundown.
(Scotland) The outer room of a small two-room cottage.
A limit; a boundary.
The end; especially the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end; the butt.
From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
Meanings
(archaic, humorous, rare) Use the word "but".
But me no buts.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
butting
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
butted
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
butted
Tense=Past
lexicographic
buts
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Deriveds
nothing but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · ifs, ands, or buts (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · Jill of all trades but mistress of none (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · it's not what you say but how you say it (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but me no buts (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · not only … but also (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but that (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · everything but the galley stove (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but who's counting (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · anything but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · it's not what you know but whom you know (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · can't help but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · though but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · silent-but-violent (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · yesterday but one (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but for the grace of God (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · gurry-but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · not but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but seriously folks (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but then again (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but then (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · can't but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but and ben (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · all but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but good (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · cannot but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · cannot help but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but hey (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · can but hope (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but if (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · but for (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but) · all-but (Terms derived from the preposition, adverb, conjunction, or noun but)