but

conjunction

on the contrary; yet: My brother went, but I did not.

except; save: She was so overcome with grief she could do nothing but weep.

unless; if not; except that (followed by a clause, often with that expressed): Nothing would do but that I should come in.

without the circumstance that: It never rains but it pours.

otherwise than: There is no hope but by prayer.

that (used especially after doubt, deny, etc., with a negative): I don't doubt but he will do it.

who not; that not: No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists.

(used as an intensifier to introduce an exclamatory expression): But she's beautiful!

Informal. than: It no sooner started raining but it stopped.

preposition

10.

with the exception of; except; save: No one replied but me.

00:10

But is always a great word to know.

So is doohickey. Does it mean:

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

adverb

11.

only; just: There is but one God.

noun

12.

buts, reservations or objections: You'll do as you're told, no buts about it.

Idioms

13.

but for, except for; were it not for: But for the excessive humidity, it might have been a pleasant day.

14.

but what. what ( def 24 ).

Origin:
before 900; Middle English buten, Old English būtan for phrase be ūtan on the outside, without. See by, out

Synonyms
1. But, however, nevertheless, still, yet are words implying opposition (with a possible concession). But marks an opposition or contrast, though in a casual way: We are going, but we shall return. However indicates a less marked opposition, but displays a second consideration to be compared with the first: We are going; however ( “notice this also” ), we shall return. Nevertheless implies a concession, something which should not be forgotten in making a summing up: We are going; nevertheless ( “do not forget that” ), we shall return. Still implies that in spite of a preceding concession, something must be considered as possible or even inevitable: We have to go on foot; still ( “it is probable and possible that” ), we'll get there. Yet implies that in spite of a preceding concession, there is still a chance for a different outcome: We are going; yet ( “in spite of all, some day” ), we shall return. 2. See except¹.

Usage note
1. But, like and, is a common transitional word and often begins sentences. When it is used in the middle of a sentence as a coordinating conjunction like and or so, it is not followed by a comma unless the comma is one of a pair setting off a parenthetical expression: His political affiliations make no difference, but his lack of ethics does. The cast is nearly complete, but, our efforts notwithstanding, we lack a star. See also and, so¹.
2, 10. When but is understood as a conjunction and the pronoun following it is understood as the subject of an incompletely expressed clause, the pronoun is in the subjective case: Everyone lost faith in the plan but she (did not lose faith). In virtually identical contexts, when but is understood as a preposition, the pronoun following it is in the objective case: Everyone lost faith but her. The prepositional use is more common. However, when prepositional but and its following pronoun occur near the beginning of a sentence, the subjective case often appears: Everyone but she lost faith in the plan. See also doubt, than.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

noun Scot.

the outer or front room of a house; the outer or front apartment in an apartment house.

the kitchen of a two-room dwelling, especially of a cottage.

Origin:
1715–25; noun use of but¹ (adv.) outside, outside the house

butt⁵.

a combining form meaning “containing a group of four carbon atoms,” used in the formation of compound words: butene.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins

World English Dictionary

but¹ (bʌt, (unstressed) bət)

—*conj*
1.	contrary to expectation: he cut his knee but didn't cry
2.	in contrast; on the contrary: I like opera but my husband doesn't
3.	(usually used after a negative) other than: we can't do anything but wait

—*conj*
4.	(usually used after a negative) without it happening or being the case that: we never go out but it rains
5.	(foll by that) except that: nothing is impossible but that we live forever
6.	archaic if not; unless

—*sentence connector*
7.	informal used to introduce an exclamation: my, but you're nice

—*prep*
8.	except; save: they saved all but one of the pigs
9.	but for were it not for: but for you, we couldn't have managed

—*adv*
10.	just; merely; only: he was but a child; I can but try
11.	informal (Scot), (Austral), (NZ) though; however: it's a rainy day: warm, but
12.	all but almost; practically: he was all but dead when we found him

—n
13.	an objection (esp in the phrase ifs and buts)

[Old English būtan without, outside, except, from beby + ūtanout; related to Old Saxon biūtan, Old High German biūzan]

but² (bʌt)

—n
1.	the outer room of a two-roomed cottage: usually the kitchen

—*prep, —adv*
2.	Compare ben in or into the outer part (of a house)

[C18: from but (adv) outside, hence, outer room; see but¹]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

but

O.E. butan, buton "unless, except; without, outside," from W.Gmc. *be- "by" (see by) + *utana "out, outside; from without," from ut "out" (see out). Not used as a conjunction in O.E.

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

but

In addition to the idioms beginning with but, also see all but; all over but the shouting; anything but; can't help but; close but no cigar; everything but the kitchen sink; it never rains but it pours; last but not least; no ifs or buts; nothing but; sadder but wiser; separate but equal; slow but sure; spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; there but for the grace of god.