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1 BUT
A sting of different words for the conjunction "but" are attested. In the Etymologies, the word for "but" is ná or nán. In Fíriel's Song, the short variant nan appears. One text (VT49:15) uses apa for “but”, but elsewhere, this is a preposition “after”. In Tolkien's drafts for a Quenya version of the Lord's Prayer, he was experimenting with many words for "but": anat, onë, ono (VT43:23; ono occurs also in another text in VT44:5/9, and shorter nó is attested in VT41:13), but in the final version of the Lord's Prayer, he used mal. We cannot know how many of these alternatives Tolkien would have considered conceptually valid and which were just experimental. For the purpose of writing in Quenya, the variant ná is probably best avoided since it can be confused with the copula "is"; likewise, nán (and nan?) may also mean *"I am" (ná, na- + the pronominal ending -n "I"). The Lord's Prayer variants are less ambiguous, and mal (the word used in the final version) is perhaps the best alternative so far published. BUT meaning "only" (as in "I am but a boy") may be rendered by er (only, one, alone, still). BUT YET a-nanta, ananta (and yet) –NDAN, LT1:269, FS, VT41:13, VT43:23
См. также в других словарях:
one's best bib and tucker — ► one s best bib and tucker informal one s smartest clothes. Main Entry: ↑bib … English terms dictionary
one's best days — To be now on the decline ● see … Useful english dictionary
one’s best shot — n. one’s best attempt (at something). □ That was his best shot, but it wasn’t good enough. □ I always try to give something my best shot … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
one's best friend — one s closest or favorite friend … Useful english dictionary
To do one's best — do do (d[=oo]), v. t. or auxiliary. [imp. {did} (d[i^]d); p. p. {done} (d[u^]n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Doing} (d[=oo] [i^]ng). This verb, when transitive, is formed in the indicative, present tense, thus: I do, thou doest (d[=oo] [e^]st) or dost… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
one's best years — the most vigorous and productive period of one s life; one s prime he had spent the best years of his life working at the stables … Useful english dictionary
one's best — the highest standard or level attainable. → best … English new terms dictionary
one's best bib and tucker — informal one s smartest clothes. → bib … English new terms dictionary
one's best bib and tucker — informal one s finest clothes … Useful english dictionary
do one's best — verb perform a task as well as possible (Freq. 3) The cast gives full measure every night • Syn: ↑go all out, ↑give one s best, ↑give full measure • Hypernyms: ↑do, ↑perform … Useful english dictionary
at one's best — {prep. phr.} In best form; displaying one s best qualities. * /Tim is at his best when he has had a long swim before a ballgame./ * /Jane rested before the important meeting because she wanted to be at her best./ … Dictionary of American idioms
