Middle English Dictionary Entry
nō-but adv., prep., & conj.
Entry Info
| Forms | nō-but adv., prep., & conj. Also -bot, -bit. |
| Etymology | From nō adv. & but conj. & prep. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) As adv.: only, merely; ~ onli, only; (b) as prep.: except, other than; (c) as conj.: unless, except that; ?truly, assuredly [1st quot.; ?L nisi misunderstood]; ~ if, unless.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22740 : Þat com was bath dern and hidd And nobot [Phys-E: no bit; Göt: bot] quon men to kidd.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1127 : If hit cheve þe chaunce..Þat ho blyndes of ble..No-bot wasch hir wyth worchyp in wyn.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.4 Kings (Cld E.2)18.4 : No thing of Godhed was in it..no but copir was there.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)177/45 : Fro þe annuncyacyone of oure lady vnto myssomer-daye no but elleuene tymes..she toke bodily mete.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)7512 : Ihesu in sepulcre lay no bot only daies thre.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.66.2 : To whom forsoþe shal I beholden no but [L nisi] to þe porelet & contrit in spirit.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.44.14 : Þei shul not ben turned aȝeen þider no but [L nisi] þei þat flowen.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.6.7 : Eche man that shal axe eny axinge of eny god and man, vnto thritty days, no bot of thee, kyng, be sent in to the lake of lyouns.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 5.37 : He resceyuede not ony man to sue him no but Petre and James, [etc.].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.13.57 : A prophete is nat with outen wirshipe, no but in his owne cuntree and in his owne hous.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.14.17 : We han nat here no but fiue looues.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)44 : No power is no but of God.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2182 : Al watz holz in-with, nobot an olde caue.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.42.19 : Who is blynd, no but my seruaunt? and deef, no but he to whom Y sente my messangeris? Who is blynd, no but [WB(1) (DC 369(2)): non bot] he that is seeld? and who is blynd, no but the seruaunt of the Lord?
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)224 : Here is noon other thing no but the hous of God.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.49.20 : His thoȝtis þat he thoȝte of þe dwelleris of theman: if þe litle childer of þe king shul not þrowen hem doun! no but [WB(2): if; L nisi] þei shul scateren with hem þer dwellyng!
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.5.20 : Y say to ȝou, no but [WB(2): that but] ȝif ȝoure riȝtwisnesse shal be more plenteuouse than of scribis and Pharisees, ȝee shulen not entre in to kyngdam of heuenes.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 19.11 : Thou schuldist not haue ony power aȝens me, no but [L nisi] it were ȝouuen to thee fro aboue.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)37 : He that swerith thus..be deposid or degratid..no but he amende himsilf.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.34.6 : No but [WB(1) (Bod 959): ne but] visitacioun is sent out of the hiȝeste, ȝyue thou not thin herte in tho dremes.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.126.1-2 : No but [Bod 277: But if] the Lord bilde the hous, thei that bilden it han trauelid in veyn. No but the Lord kepith the citee, he wakith in veyn that kepith it.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.50.45 : No but the litle of the flockis drawen hem doun, no but the dwellyng place of hem be destried with hem, ellis no man ȝyue credence to me.