but - What does it mean?

Conjunction

(wikipedia) (en-con)

Except (for), excluding. Preceded by a negation.

:

*{{quote-news|year=2011|date=October 23|author=Becky Ashton|work=BBC Sport

|title= QPR 1-0 Chelsea |passage=Luiz struggled with the movement of Helguson in the box, as he collected a long ball and the Spaniard barged him over, leaving referee Chris Foy little option but to point to the spot.}}

On the contrary, but rather (introducing a word or clause that contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence without the not ).

:

However, although, nevertheless (implies that the following clause is contrary to prior belief or contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence).

:

:

*{{quote-magazine|date=2013-07-19|author= Ian Sample

|volume=189|issue=6|page=34|magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) |title= Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains |passage=Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits.  ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found.}}

*{{quote-magazine|date=2013-06-29|volume=407|issue=8842|page=55|magazine=(The Economist)

|title= Travels and travails |passage=Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But , as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.}}

Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".

*, II.15:

*:There is no reason but hath another contrary unto it, saith the wisest party of Philosophers.

*Shakespeare

*:And but my noble Moor is true of mindit were enough to put him to ill thinking.

*1820 , (John Keats), ‘Lamia’, Lamia & Other Poems :

*:A deadly silence step by step increased, / Until it seem'd a horrid presence there, / And not a man but felt the terror in his hair.

:

Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).

:

(obsolete) Except with; unless with; without.

*Fuller

*:So insolent that he could not go but either spurning equals or trampling on his inferiors.

*Motto of the Mackintoshes

*:Touch not the cat but a glove.

(obsolete) Only; solely; merely.

*Milton

*:Observe but how their own principles combat one another.

*Bible, 2 Kings vii. 4

*:If they kill us, we shall but die.

*Dryden

*:a formidable man but to his friends