but

adv

Etymology: 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.

1. Merely, only, just, no more than

   “Christmas comes but once a year, so we can but wait till then.”

   “If they kill us, we shall but die.”

2. Though, however.

   “I'll have to go home early but.”

   “"Supposin' the chap ain't dead, but?" Regan persisted.”

3. Used to repeat an adverb for emphasis; simply; just; absolutely.

   “I would never, but never do such a thing!”

   ““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.””

conj

Etymology: 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.

1. 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.”

2. 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.”

3. Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.

   “But I never said you could do that!”

   “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.”

4. 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".

   “I cannot but feel offended.”

   “My kid does nothing but watch TV all day.”

5. Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.

   “Wow! But that's amazing!”

   “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"”

6. Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).

   “It never rains but it pours”

   “I never hear this song but I think of you.”

7. 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.”

8. Only; solely; merely.

   “Observe but how their own principles combat one another.”

   “a formidable man but to his friends”

9. Until.

   “'Tshall not be long but I'll be here again.”

10. That.

    “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.”

    ““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 […].”

name

1. A surname.

noun

Etymology: 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.

1. An instance of using the word "but"; an objection or caveat.

   “It has to be done—no ifs, ands, or buts.”

   “But—and this is a big but—you have to come home by sundown.”

2. The outer room of a small two-room cottage.
3. A limit; a boundary.
4. The end; especially the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end; the butt.

prep

Etymology: 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.

1. Apart from, except (for), excluding.

   “Everyone but Father left early.”

   “I like everything but that.”

2. Outside of.

   “Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there.”

verb

Etymology: 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.

1. Use the word "but".

   “But me no buts.”