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but
- Thread starter Taka
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Taka said:
As an adverb, but (meaning, nothing more than) is synonymous with only:
EX: He was only/but a child"
EX: Hopes that last but/only a moment
Note their origin in Old English (OE), but (adv.) unless, without, outside (of); only (adv.) unique, solitary. There's a semantic tie between outside (of) and solitary .
As a conjunction, but was not used as a conjunction in OE. Today, but (meaning with the exception that) is synonymous with however. Both mark an opposition in passing from one thought to another; possible tie: outside of the fact that...
EX: This is not winter, but it is almost as cold.
EX: This is not winter; it is, however, almost as cold
Usage: but marks the opposition with a medium degree of strength. however is weaker, and throws the opposition into the background. (still is stronger than but, and marks the opposition more emphatically.)
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Taka said:
Derivation? I don't understand what you mean by 'derivation'.
According to the previous post, the difference in meaning between the two but's has to do with function: one is an adverb, the other a conjunction. The similarity in meaning between but/only and but/however has to do with semantic extension: but means, outside (of)/not inside ~ unique ~ the exception. As an exception it's also an opposition; only means, unique, solitary, sole; however expresses an opposition.
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