But
King James Dictionary [1]
But, part. for butan.
1. Except besides unless.
Who can it be, but perjured Lycon?
That is, removed, separated, excepted.
Lycon being separated, or excepted, who can it be?
And but infirmity,
Which waits upon worn times, hath something seized
His wish'd ability, he had himself
The lands and waters measured.
That is, except,unless, separate this fact, that infirmity had seized his ability,he had measured the lands and waters.
In this use but, butan, is a participle equivalent to excepting, and may be referred to the person speaking, or more naturally, it is equivalent to excepted,and with the following words, or clause,forming the case absolute.
Who can it be,Lycon being excepted?
And but my noble Moor is true of mind, it were enough to put him to thinking.
It cannot be but nature hath some director, of infinite power, to guide her in all her ways.
There is no question but the King of Spain will reform most of the abuses.
It is not impossible but I may alter the complexion of my play.
In the last three examples, that is omitted after but.
It is not impossible but that I may alter the complexion of my play.
In these and all similar phrases,but denotes separation, exception.
2. Only.
A formidable man, but to his friends.
There is but one man present.use of but is a modern innovation but perhaps too firmly established to be corrected. In all such phrases, a negative, not, nothing, or other word,is omitted. He is not a formidable man, but to his enemies, that is, except. There is not but one man present, that is, there is not except or besides one present. So also, "Our light affliction is but for a moment." 2 Corinthians 4 . Our affliction is not, except for a moment.
If they kill us, we shall but die. 2 Kings 7
The common people in America retain the original and correct phrase,usually employing a negative. They do not say, I have but one. On the other hand, they say, I have not but one, that is, I have not except one except one, and I have none. This word but for butan is not a conjunction, nor has it the least affinity to that part of speech.
But, cong. Eng.over.
More further noting an addition to supply what is wanting to elucidate, or modify the sense of the preceding part of a sentence, or of a discourse, or to continue the discourse, or to exhibit a contrast.
Now abide faith, hope, charity, these three
but, the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13
When pride cometh, then cometh shame but with the
lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 11 .
Our wants are many and grievous but quite of another
kind.
The house of representatives were well agreed in passing the bill but the senate dissented.
This word is in fact a noun equivalent to addition or supply but in grammatical construction, no inconvenience results from considering it to be a connective.
1. An end a limit a bound. It is used particularly for the larger end of a thing, as of a piece of timber, or of a fallen tree that which grows nearest the earth. It is not often applied to the bound or limit of land yet butted,for bounded, is often used. 2. The end of a plank in a ship's side or bottom, which unites with another generally written butt.
But, To be bounded by to lie contiguous to a word used in America. See Abut.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): (v. t.) The thickest and stoutest part of tanned oxhides, used for soles of boots, harness, trunks.
(2): (adv. & conj.) Except with; unless with; without.
(3): (adv. & conj.) Except; besides; save.
(4): (adv. & conj.) Excepting or excluding the fact that; save that; were it not that; unless; - elliptical, for but that.
(5): (adv. & conj.) Otherwise than that; that not; - commonly, after a negative, with that.
(6): (adv. & conj.) Only; solely; merely.
(7): (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.
(8): (prep., adv. & conj.) The outer apartment or kitchen of a two-roomed house; - opposed to ben, the inner room.
(9): (n.) A limit; a boundary.
(10): (n.) The end; esp. the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end. See 1st Butt.
(11): (v. i.) See Butt, v., and Abut, v.
(12): (v. t.) A person at whom ridicule, jest, or contempt is directed; as, the butt of the company.
(13): (v. t.) A push, thrust, or sudden blow, given by the head of an animal; as, the butt of a ram.
(14): (v. t.) 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.
(15): (v. t.) The hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in rifle practice.
(16): (v. t.) A limit; a bound; a goal; the extreme bound; the end.
(17): (v. t.) The thicker end of anything. See But.
(18): (v. t.) A mark to be shot at; a target.
(19): (v. t.) The joint where two planks in a strake meet.
(20): (v. t.) A thrust in fencing.
(21): (v. t.) A piece of land left unplowed at the end of a field.
(22): (v. t.) A joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without scarfing or chamfering; - also called butt joint.
(23): (v. t.) The end of a connecting rod or other like piece, to which the boxing is attached by the strap, cotter, and gib.
(24): (v. t.) The portion of a half-coupling fastened to the end of a hose.
