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Webster 1913 Edition

But

But

(bŭt)
,
p
rep.
,
adv.
& c
onj.
[OE.
bute
,
buten
, AS.
būtan
, without, on the outside, except, besides; pref.
be-
+
ūtan
outward, without, fr.
ūt
out. Primarily,
būtan
, as well as
ūt
, is an adverb. √198. See
By
,
Out
; cf.
About
.]
1.
Except with; unless with; without.
[Obs.]
So insolent that he could not go
but
either spurning equals or trampling on his inferiors.
Fuller.
Touch not the cat
but
a glove.
Motto of the Mackintoshes.
2.
Except; besides; save.
Who can it be, ye gods!
but
perjured Lycon?
E. Smith.
☞ In this sense, but is often used with other particles; as, but for, without, had it not been for. “Uncreated but for love divine.”
Young.
3.
Excepting or excluding the fact that; save that; were it not that; unless; – elliptical, for but that.
And
but
my noble Moor is true of mind . . . it were enough to put him to ill thinking.
Shakespeare
4.
Otherwise than that; that not; – commonly, after a negative, with that.
It cannot be
but
nature hath some director, of infinite power, to guide her in all her ways.
Hooker.
There is no question
but
the king of Spain will reform most of the abuses.
Addison.
5.
Only; solely; merely.
Observe
but
how their own principles combat one another.
Milton.
If they kill us, we shall
but
die.
2 Kings vii. 4.
A formidable man
but
to his friends.
Dryden.
6.
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
.
Now abideth faith hope, charity, these three;
but
the greatest of these is charity.
1 Cor. xiii. 13.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame;
but
with the lowly is wisdom.
Prov. xi. 2.
All but
.
See under
All
.
–
But and if
,
but if; an attempt on the part of King James’s translators of the Bible to express the conjunctive and adversative force of the Greek [GREEK].
But and if
that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; . . . the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him.
Luke xii. 45, 46.
But if
,
unless.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.

But this I read, that
but if
remedy
Thou her afford, full shortly I her dead shall see.
Spenser.
Syn. –
But
,
However
,
Still
.
These conjunctions mark opposition in passing from one thought or topic to another. But marks the opposition with a medium degree of strength;
as, this is not winter,
but
it is almost as cold; he requested my assistance, but I shall not aid him at present
. However is weaker, and throws the opposition (as it were) into the background;
as, this is not winter; it is,
however
, almost as cold; he required my assistance; at present,
however
, I shall not afford him aid. The plan,
however
, is still under consideration, and may yet be adopted.
Still is stronger than but, and marks the opposition more emphatically;
as, your arguments are weighty;
still
they do not convince me.
See
Except
,
However
.
☞ “The chief error with but is to use it where and is enough; an error springing from the tendency to use strong words without sufficient occasion.”
Bain.

But

,
Noun.
[Cf.
But
,
p
rep.
,
adv.
& c
onj.
]
The outer apartment or kitchen of a two-roomed house; – opposed to
ben
, the inner room.
[Scot.]

But

,
Noun.
[See 1st
But
.]
1.
A limit; a boundary.
But end
,
the larger or thicker end;
as, the
but end
of a log; the
but end
of a musket.
See
Butt
,
Noun.

But

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Butted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Butting
.]
See
Butt
,
Verb.
, and
Abut
,
Verb.
{

Butt

,

But

}
,
Noun.
[F.
but
butt, aim (cf.
butte
knoll), or
bout
, OF.
bot
, end, extremity, fr.
boter
,
buter
, to push, butt, strike, F.
bouter
; of German origin; cf. OHG.
bōzan
, akin to E.
beat
. See
Beat
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
A limit; a bound; a goal; the extreme bound; the end.
Here is my journey's end, here my
butt

And very sea mark of my utmost sail.
Shakespeare
☞ As applied to land, the word is nearly synonymous with mete, and signifies properly the end line or boundary; the abuttal.
3.
A mark to be shot at; a target.
Sir W. Scott.
The groom his fellow groom at
butts
defies,
And bends his bow, and levels with his eyes.
Dryden.
4.
A person at whom ridicule, jest, or contempt is directed;
as, the
butt
of the company
.
I played a sentence or two at my
butt
, which I thought very smart.
Addison.
5.
A push, thrust, or sudden blow, given by the head of an animal;
as, the
butt
of a ram
.
6.
A thrust in fencing.
To prove who gave the fairer
butt
,
John shows the chalk on Robert's coat.
Prior.
7.
A piece of land left unplowed at the end of a field.
The hay was growing upon headlands and
butts
in cornfields.
Burrill.
8.
(Mech.)
(a)
A joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without scarfing or chamfering; – also called
butt joint
.
(b)
The end of a connecting rod or other like piece, to which the boxing is attached by the strap, cotter, and gib.
(c)
The portion of a half-coupling fastened to the end of a hose.
9.
(Shipbuilding)
The joint where two planks in a strake meet.
10.
(Carp.)
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
.
11.
(Leather Trade)
The thickest and stoutest part of tanned oxhides, used for soles of boots, harness, trunks.
12.
The hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in rifle practice.
Butt chain
(Saddlery)
,
a short chain attached to the end of a tug.
–
Butt end
.
The thicker end of anything. See
But end
, under 2d
But
.
Amen; and make me die a good old man!
That's the
butt end
of a mother's blessing.
Shakespeare
A butt's length
,
the ordinary distance from the place of shooting to the butt, or mark.
–
Butts and bounds
(Conveyancing)
,
abuttals and boundaries. In lands of the ordinary rectangular shape, butts are the lines at the ends (F. bouts), and bounds are those on the sides, or sidings, as they were formerly termed.
Burrill.
–
Bead and butt
.
See under
Bead
.
–
Butt and butt
,
joining end to end without overlapping, as planks.
–
Butt weld
(Mech.)
,
a butt joint, made by welding together the flat ends, or edges, of a piece of iron or steel, or of separate pieces, without having them overlap. See
Weld
.
–
Full butt
,
headfirst with full force.
[Colloq.]
“The corporal . . . ran full butt at the lieutenant.”
Marryat.

Webster 1828 Edition

But

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 ill 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 Cor. 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 Cor.13.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the
lowly is wisdom. Prov. 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.

BUT

,
Noun.
[L. peto.]
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

,
Verb.
I.
To be bounded by; to lie contiguous to; a word used in America. [See Abut.]

Definition 2024

būt

būt

See also: butt, but, Butt, bút, bût, Bụt, and but-

Latvian

Verb

būt intr., no conj., pres. esmu, esi, ir, past biju

  1. to be, to exist
    būt vai nebūt‎ ― to be or not to be
    tas ir (= t.i.)‎ ― i.e., that is to say (lit. that is)
    ir vairāki šās dziesmas varianti‎ ― (there) are many versions of this song
    lietus beidzot pārgājis, bet saules nav‎ ― the rain is finally gone, but (still) there is no sun
  2. to be, to be at, to be located (at)
    mēs būsim mājā‎ ― we will be in the house
    viņš vakar bija Rīgā‎ ― he was in Riga yesterday
    kur tu biji?‎ ― where were you?
    govis ir ganībās‎ ― the cows are in the grazing area (= grazing)
    grāmata ir uz galda‎ ― the book is on the table
    pilsētā ir rūpnīcas‎ ― (the) factories are in the city
    spainī ir ūdens‎ ― (there) is water in the bucket
    maizes somā nebija‎ ― there was no bread in the bag
    mūsu mežā ir stirnas‎ ― there are deer in our forest
  3. to be at, to attend, to participate in
    daudzi Ceilonas skolotāji bijuši VI Vispasaules jaunatnes un studentu festivālā Maskavā‎ ― many teachers (from) Ceylon were at the VI All-World youth and student festival in Moscow
    “varam sākt sapulci” Jānis teica; “vairāk neviena nebūs”‎ ― “we can begin the meeting”, Jānis said; “there won't be anybody else” (= nobody else is coming)
    būt arodbiedrībā jau desmit gadu‎ ― to be (= participate, work) in the trade union for ten years
  4. (3rd person only, with a dative complement) to possess; to have (all senses)
    viņiem ir divistabu dzīvoklis‎ ― they have a two-room apartment
    zvejniekiem ir jauni tīkli‎ ― the fishermen have new nets
    vai tev ir nauda?‎ ― do you have (any) money?
    mātei ir māsa‎ ― the mother has a sister
    meitenei bija draudzene‎ ― the girl had a (girl)friend
    man ir darbs‎ ― I have work
    mums bija uzdevums‎ ― we had a task
    šodien man nebūs laika‎ ― today I won't have time
    latviešiem ir teika par Lāčplēsi‎ ― the Latvians have a legend about a Bear Slayer
    viņam bija pamatoti argumenti‎ ― he had valid arguments
    mums ir priekšlikums‎ ― we have a proposal
  5. (3rd person only, with a dative complement) to have, in a part-whole relationship}}
    ābelei ir balti ziedi‎ ― the apple tree has white flowers
    viņam bija brīnišķīgi skaidras un laipnas bērna acis‎ ― he had wonderfully clear and kind child's eyes
    viņam ir skaļa balss‎ ― he has a loud voice
    aktierim ir talants‎ ― the actor has talent
    tev ir labs noskaņojums‎ ― you have (= are in) a good mood
  6. (3rd person only) to be, to happen, to take place
    pagalmā bija liels tracis‎ ― in the (back) yard (there) was a big brawl
    kas ir, ir; kas būs, būs‎ ― what(ever) is, is; whatever will be, will be
    tur viss kārtībā... nelielā neskaidrība tikai, kad īsti būs kāzas‎ ― there everything (is) all right... only a little uncertainty (about) when exactly the wedding will be (= happen, take place)
    lai būtu kā būdams‎ ― let it be as it is (= let happen what will happen; so be it)
  7. to be; used as a simple copula to link a subject to its predicate
    tā ir laime‎ ― that is happiness
    būs labi‎ ― (it) will be good
    man ir auksti‎ ― I am (= feel) cold
    laiks būšot saulains‎ ― the weather, they say, will be sunny
    kas bija dzīve, kas bija cilvēks bez liela sapņa?‎ ― what was life, what was a person without a big dream?
  8. to be, to have, must, should; used as an auxiliary verb to form compound verb tenses
    esmu atnācis‎ ― I have arrived
    bijām aizbraukuši ciemos‎ ― we had left to visit (someone)
    nav dzirdēts‎ ― (it) hasn't been heard
    par to ir jārunā‎ ― one must talk about this
    tas būtu jāredz‎ ― this would have to be seen (= it is a must-see)
    viņš esot tur strādājis‎ ― he, they say, has worked there
    darbs būšot pabeigts‎ ― the work, they say, will be finished

Conjugation

Usage notes

Of the two conjunctive debitive form, jāesot is the most frequently found one; jābūtot, though attested, is less frequent and apparently nonstandard.

Derived terms

prefixed verbs:
  • izbūt
  • pabūt
  • pārbūt
  • sabūt
other derived terms:

References

  1. ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “būt”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, ISBN 9984-700-12-7

Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *bū-ti, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- ‎(“to grow, to prosper”) ( > “to become, to be”). The past tense forms are derived from Proto-Baltic *bī- (*bī-yuo > biju), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-wi. The present tense forms come from Proto-Indo-European *es- < *h₁es- ‎(“to be”): *esmi > esmu, etc. The third-person forms are from other sources: see ir, nav. Cognates include Lithuanian būti, Old Prussian būton, boūt(on), Sudovian bus ‎(“will be”), Old Church Slavonic бꙑти ‎(byti), Russian быть ‎(byt’), Belarusian быць ‎(byc’), Ukrainian бути ‎(búty), Czech býti, Polish być, Irish buith ‎(“to be”), Old High German būan ‎(“to live, to cultivate land”), German bauen ‎(“to build, to cultivate land, to grow, e.g., of roots”), Sanskrit भवति ‎(bhávati, “to become”), Ancient Greek φύομαι ‎(phúomai, “to grow, to be”).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [bûːt]

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