not but
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 6.36 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
conj
Introducing a subordinate clause, frequently with that or what: "it is not that (the following clause) is not the case".
Archaic
Example Sentences
- "Spenser's Calendar, in Mr Dryden's opinion, is the most complete work of this kind which any nation has produced ever since the time of Virgil. Not but that he may be thought imperfect in some few points."
- "[H]e did not fail to be extremely disconcerted at his first entrance into a scene of life to which he was totally a stranger. Not but that he met with abundance of people in the country […]."
- "Not but your father has good qualities, and I assure you I remember him a very fine gentleman himself."
- "This was the only very severe thing I ever said in my Life; not but that I have often felt myself extremely satirical but it was the only time I ever made my feelings public."
- "'[…] Fanny used to say that she would marry sooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly fond of you -- but so it happened to strike her. […]'"
- "I believe you they dread him. Not but what he's artful, even in his defiance of them."