but

Question

English - Etymology

From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“out of, outside of, off, round about, except, without, all but, but only, besides, in addition to, in spite of, except that, save, but, only, unless, save that, if only, provided that, outside”), 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”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”). Compare bin, about.

English - Pronunciation

(stressed) (UK) IPA^(key): /bʌt/, [bɐt], enPR: bŭt
(stressed) (US) IPA^(key): /bʌt/, enPR: bŭt
(unstressed) IPA^(key): /bət/, enPR: bət
Rhymes: -ʌt
Homophone: butt

English - Preposition

but

(obsolete outside Scotland) Outside of.

Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there.
Without, apart from, except.

Everyone but Father left early.

I like everything but that.

English - Adverb

but (not comparable)

Merely, only.
- 1791, Robert Burns, "Ae Fond Kiss":
  
  For to see her was to love her,
  Love but her, and love for ever.
- 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:
  
  Now the Wicked Witch of the West had but one eye, yet that was as powerful as a telescope, and could see everywhere.
- 1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York Review Books, 2006, p.49:
  
  The stony outcrops are often covered but thinly with arable soil; winters are bitingly cold, and rainfall scanty and unpredictable.
(Australia, conjunctive) Though, however.

I'll have to go home early but.

English - Conjunction

Wikipedia BUT * Except (for), excluding. Preceded by a negation. _I have no choice BUT to leave._ * On the contrary, but rather (introducing a word or clause that contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence without the _not_). _I am not rich BUT (I am) poor; not John BUT Peter went there_ * However, although, nevertheless (implies that the following clause is contrary to prior belief or contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence). _She is very old BUT still attractive._ _You told me I could do that, BUT she said that I could not._ * Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that". * 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, _Essays_, II.15: There is no reason BUT hath another contrary unto it, saith the wisest party of Philosophers. * Shakespeare And BUT my noble Moor is true of mind […] it were enough to put him to ill thinking. * 1820, John Keats, ‘Lamia’, _Lamia & Other Poems_: 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. _I cannot BUT feel offended._ * Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant). _It never rains BUT it pours._ * (obsolete) Except with; unless with; without. * Fuller So insolent that he could not go BUT either spurning equals or trampling on his inferiors. * Motto of the Mackintoshes Touch not the cat BUT a glove. * (obsolete) Only; solely; merely. * Milton Observe BUT how their own principles combat one another. * Bible, 2 Kings vii. 4 If they kill us, we shall BUT die. * Dryden a formidable man BUT to his friends USAGE NOTES * Beginning a sentence with a coordinating conjunction such as BUT is considered incorrect by classical grammarians arguing that a coordinating conjunction at the start of a sentence has nothing to connect, but use of the word in this way is very common. It is, however, best to avoid beginning a sentence with BUT in formal writing. Combining sentences or using HOWEVER, NEVERTHELESS, STILL, or THOUGH is appropriate for the formal style. * But this tool has its uses. * This tool has its uses, however. * Nevertheless, this tool has its uses. * Still, this tool has its uses. * This tool still has its uses. * This tool has its uses, though. * The use of the word BUT preceded by a comma is also considered incorrect by classical grammarians. * I was very tired, but I decided to continue. * It was a lovely day, but rain looked likely. SYNONYMS * (except): bar, unless, excepting, excluding, with the exception of, without * (however): yet, although, ac TRANSLATIONS

Wikipedia

but