but.1conj.aA poor but honest man, fear bocht ach fear ionraic. But I tell you I saw it, ach deirim leat go bhfacas é. But yet . . ., ach ina dhiaidh sin ... b (Subordinating) I never pass there but I think of you, ní théim an bealach am ar bith gan smaoineamh ort. Never a year passes but he writes to us, níl bliain ar bith nach scríobhann sé chugainn. He does nothing but eat, ní stadann sé ach ag ithe. Who knows but that he might come? cá bhfios nach, ná go, dtiocfadh sé?I cannot but believe that..., ní féidir liom gan a chreidiúint go ... I do not doubt but that he will come, níl amhras ar bith orm nach, ná go, dtiocfaidh sé. Not but that I pity you, agus ní hé nach bhfuil trua agam duit. 2adv.She is but a child, níl inti ach leanbh. He talks but little, ní dheireann sé mórán. I saw him but an hour ago, níl sé ach uair ó chonaic mé é. But yesterday, inné féin. Had I but known, dá mba go mbeadh a fhios agam. S.a. ALL I. 2. 3conj. or prep. (Except) aWho will do it but me? cé eile a dhéanfas é ach mise?All but he, but him, iad uile ach eisean. None but he can do it, ní féidir le aon duine a dhéanamh ach leisean. Anything but that, gach uile rud ach sin. He is anything but a singer, cibé rud eile é ní amhránaí é. There is nothing for it but to go away, níl le déanamh ach imeacht. What could I do but invite him? cad é a bhí le déanamh agam ach cuireadh a thabhairt dó?How could I but laugh? cén chaoi a bhféadfainn gan gáire?bBut for, murach, gan. But for you I was done for, bhí mé réidh gan tusa, murach thusa. But for that, murach sin.
As we were starting what must he do but cut his finger, nuair a bhíomar ag imeacht céard deir tú leis a ghearr a mhéar!céard a dhéanfadh sé ach a mhéar a ghearradh!