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But means except for, unless or on the contrary.

(conjunction)

An example of but is to say everything except the kitchen sink.

But is defined as with the exception of.

(preposition)

An example of but is everyone aside from me.

The definition of but is only.

(adverb)

An example of but is there is just one president of the United States.

See but in Webster's New World College Dictionary

with the exception of; excepting; save [nobody came but me]: earlier, and still sometimes, regarded as a conjunction and followed by the nominative case [nobody came but I (came)]
except; other than: used with an infinitive as the object: we cannot choose but (to) stay

Origin: ME < OE butan, buton, without, outside; WGmc comp. < *be-, *bi-, by + *utana, from without: see out

conjunction

and in spite of this; and even so; yet: he is a villain, but he has some virtues
and on the contrary: I am old, but you are young
unless; except that: it never rains but it pours
that: I don't question but you're correct
that . . . not: it's not so high but we can jump it

adverb

only: if I had but known
merely; no more than; not otherwise than: he is but a child
just: I heard it but now
on the other hand; yet: used to introduce a sentence
Slang absolutely; positively: he did it, but good

pronoun

who . . . not; which . . . not: not a man but felt it

noun

Scot. the outer room, esp. the kitchen, of a cottage

Origin: akin to but

See but in American Heritage Dictionary 4

conjunction

On the contrary: the plan caused not prosperity but ruin.
Contrary to expectation; yet: She organized her work but accomplished very little. He is tired but happy.
Usage Problem Used to indicate an exception: No one but she saw the prowler.
With the exception that; except that. Often used with that: would have joined the band but he couldn't spare the time; would have resisted but that they lacked courage.
Informal Without the result that: It never rains but it pours.
Informal That. Often used after a negative: There is no doubt but right will prevail.
That . . . not. Used after a negative or question: There never is a tax law presented but someone will oppose it.
If not; unless: “Ten to one but the police have got them” (Charlotte M. Yonge).
Informal Than: They had no sooner arrived but they turned around and left.

preposition

Usage Problem Except.

adverb

Merely; just; only: hopes that lasted but a moment.
Used as an intensive: Get out of here but fast!

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English būtan; see ud- in Indo-European roots

Usage Note: Traditional grammarians have worried over what form the pronoun ought to take when but is used to indicate an exception in sentences such as No one but I (or No one but me) has read it. Some have argued that but is a conjunction in these sentences and therefore should be followed by the nominative form I. However, many of these grammarians have gone on to argue somewhat inconsistently that the accusative form me is appropriate when the but phrase occurs at the end of a sentence, as in No one has read it but me. While this treatment of the construction has a considerable weight of precedent on its side and cannot be regarded as incorrect, a strong case can be made on grammatical grounds for treating this use of but as a preposition. For one thing, if but were truly a conjunction here, we would expect the verb to agree in person and number with the noun or pronoun following but; we would then say No one but the students have read it. What is more, if but were a true conjunction here we would not expect that it could be moved to the end of a clause, as in No one has read it but the students. Note that we cannot use the conjunction and in a similar way, saying John left and everyone else in the class in place of John and everyone else in the class left. These observations suggest that but is best considered as a preposition here and followed by accusative forms such as me and them in all positions: No one but me has read it. No one has read it but me. These recommendations are supported by 73 percent of the Usage Panel when the but phrase precedes the verb and by 93 percent when the but phrase follows the verb. • But is redundant when used together with however, as in But the army, however, went on with its plans; one or the other word should be eliminated. • But is generally not followed by a comma. Correct written style requires Kim wanted to go, but we stayed, not Kim wanted to go, but, we stayed. • But may be used to begin a sentence at all levels of style. See Usage Notes at and, cannot, doubt, however, I¹.

prefix

Containing a group of four carbon atoms: butyl.

Origin:

Origin: From butyric

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