but
pronunciation
How to pronounce but in British English:
UK [bət , bʌt]
How to pronounce but in American English:
US [bət , bʌt]
-
- Adverb:
- and nothing more
Word Origin
- but
- but: [OE] But originally meant ‘outside’. It was a compound word formed in prehistoric West Germanic from *be (source of English by) and *ūtana (related to English out). This gave Old English būtan, which quickly developed in meaning from ‘outside’ to ‘without, except’, as in ‘all but me’ (the sense ‘outside’ survived longer in Scotland than elsewhere). The modern conjunctive use of but did not develop until the late 13th century.=> by, out
- but (adv., prep.)
- Old English butan, buton "unless, except; without, outside," from West Germanic *be-utan, a compound of *be- "by" (see by) + *utana "out, outside; from without," from ut "out" (see out (adv.)). Not used as a conjunction in Old English. As a noun from late 14c.
Example
- 1. But do you know why ?
- 2. But an abortion seems different .
- 3. But investors must be careful .
- 4. But what should we do ?
- 5. But hamas is also pragmatic .