but Hear it!

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but1 definition

but (but; unstressed bət)

  1. 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)]
  2. except; other than: used with an infinitive as the object we cannot choose but (to) stay

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

conjunction

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

adverb

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

pronoun

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

but for

if it were not for

but that

  1. about the fact that I've no doubt but that he'll come
  2. that there is not some chance that we can't be sure but that he's right
Also Informalbut what
but2 definition

but (but)

noun

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

Etymology: akin to but

but Idioms

but and ben

Scot. the whole dwelling: orig., the outer and inner rooms of a two-room cottage

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms but idiom

but Synonyms

but

conj. & prep.

  1. Indicating contrast

    however, on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless, still, yet, though, on the contrary, but then, but as you see; see also although.

  2. Indicating an exception

    except, save, disregarding, without, not including, not taking into account, let alone, leaving out of consideration, aside from, with the exception of, not to mention, passing over, barring, setting aside, forgetting, omitting (to mention); see also except.

  3. Indicating a limitation

    only, only just, merely, simply, barely, solely, purely, just, no more, exactly, no other than, without.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"but." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/but>

APA Style

but. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/but

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