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What (who) is But - definition
WIKIMEDIA DISAMBIGUATION PAGE
But; BUT (disambiguation); But (disambiguation)
but
but1
¦ conjunction
1. used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting with what has come before or with what is expected.
2. [with negative or in questions] other than; otherwise than.
3. [with negative] archaic without it being the case that.
¦ preposition except; apart from.
¦ adverb
1. only.
2. Austral./NZ & Scottish informal though; however: he was a nice bloke but.
¦ noun an objection: no ifs and buts.
Phrases
but for except for.
?if it were not for.
Origin
--------
but2
¦ noun Scottish an outer room, especially in a two-roomed cottage.
Phrases
but and ben see ben2.
Origin
C18: from but1 in the early sense 'outside'.
But
·noun A limit; a boundary.
II. But ·vt A thrust in fencing.
IV. But ·vt A mark to be shot at; a target.
V. But ·adv & ·conj Only; solely; merely.
VI. But ·adv & ·conj Except; besides; save.
VII. But ·vt The thicker end of anything. ·see But.
VIII. But ·vt The joint where two planks in a strake meet.
IX. But ·vt A piece of land left unplowed at the end of a field.
X. But ·adv & ·conj Except with; unless with; without.
XI. But ·vt A limit; a bound; a goal; the extreme bound; the end.
XII. But ·vt The portion of a half-coupling fastened to the end of a hose.
XIII. But ·vt The hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in rifle practice.
XIV. But ·vt A person at whom ridicule, jest, or contempt is directed; as, the butt of the company.
XV. But ·vt A push, thrust, or sudden blow, given by the head of an animal; as, the butt of a ram.
XVI. But ·adv & ·conj Otherwise than that; that not;
- commonly, after a negative, with that.
XVII. But ·vt The thickest and stoutest part of tanned oxhides, used for soles of boots, harness, trunks.
XVIII. But (·prep, ·adv & ·conj) The outer apartment or kitchen of a two-roomed house;
- opposed to ben, the inner room.
XIX. But ·noun The end; ·esp. the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end. ·see 1st Butt.
XX. But ·vt The end of a connecting rod or other like piece, to which the boxing is attached by the strap, cotter, and gib.
XXI. But ·vt A joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without scarfing or chamfering;
- also called butt joint.
XXII. But ·adv & ·conj Excepting or excluding the fact that; save that; were it not that; unless;
- elliptical, for but that.
XXIII. But ·vt A kind of hinge used in hanging doors, ·etc.;
- so named because fastened on the edge of the door, which butts against the casing, instead of on its face, like the strap hinge; also called butt hinge.
XXIV. But ·adv & ·conj On the contrary; on the other hand; only; yet; still; however; nevertheless; more; further;
- as connective of sentences or clauses of a sentence, in a sense more or less exceptive or adversative; as, the House of Representatives passed the bill, but the Senate dissented; our wants are many, but quite of another kind.
but
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You use but to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said, or to introduce something which adds to what you have just said.
'You said you'd stay till tomorrow.'-'I know, Bel, but I think I would rather go back.'...
Place the saucepan over moderate heat until the cider is very hot but not boiling...
He not only wants to be taken seriously as a musician, but as a poet too.
CONJ
2.
You use but when you are about to add something further in a discussion or to change the subject.
They need to recruit more people into the prison service. But another point I'd like to make is that many prisons were built in the nineteenth century.
CONJ
3.
You use but after you have made an excuse or apologized for what you are just about to say.
Please excuse me, but there is something I must say...
I'm sorry, but it's nothing to do with you...
Forgive my asking, but you're not very happy, are you?
CONJ
4.
You use but to introduce a reply to someone when you want to indicate surprise, disbelief, refusal, or protest.
'I don't think I should stay in this house.'-'But why?'...
'Somebody wants you on the telephone'-'But no one knows I'm here!'
CONJ [feelings]
5.
But is used to mean 'except'.
Europe will be represented in all but two of the seven races...
He didn't speak anything but Greek...
The crew of the ship gave them nothing but bread to eat.
PREP: n PREP n
6.
But is used to mean 'only'. (FORMAL)
This is but one of the methods used to try and get alcoholics to give up drink.
...Napoleon and Marie Antoinette, to name but two who had stayed in the great state rooms.
ADV: ADV n, ADV num
7.
You use buts in expressions like 'no buts' and 'ifs and buts' to refer to reasons someone gives for not doing something, especially when you do not think that they are good reasons.
'B-b-b-b-but' I stuttered.-'Never mind the buts,' she ranted...
He committed a crime, no ifs or buts about it.
N-PLURAL
8.
You use cannot but, could not but, and cannot help but when you want to emphasize that you believe something must be true and that there is no possibility of anything else being the case. (FORMAL)
The pistol was positioned where I couldn't help but see it...
She could not but congratulate him.
PHRASE: PHR inf [emphasis]
9.
You use but for to introduce the only factor that causes a particular thing not to happen or not to be completely true.
...the small square below, empty but for a delivery van and a clump of palm trees...
PHRASE: PHR n/-ing
10.
You use but then or but then again before a remark which slightly contradicts what you have just said.
My husband spends hours in the bathroom, but then again so do I.
PHRASE: PHR cl
11.
You use but then before a remark which suggests that what you have just said should not be regarded as surprising.
He was a fine young man, but then so had his father been...
Sonia might not speak the English language well, but then who did?
PHRASE: PHR cl
12.
Wikipedia
BUT
BUT, but or But may refer to:
- but, the adversative conjunction in English
Examples of use of But
1. But the jury clearly found it anything but simple.
2. He is a democrat but not western; progressive but religious.
3. But if not, we will move forward –– but not alone.
4. But they are interspersed with brief, but chilling, notations.
5. But the opposition has little choice but to participate.