Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BS.Dos.]

My CT has just asked me a question to which I wasn't really able to give an entirely satisfactory answer, so I'll post it here in the hope that someone can help me answer it for him.

He presented me with this sentence:

I know every book of mine by its scent, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things.

The section I've underlined was the part that was troubling him. I told him that while but to was an unusal expression, it is, to the best of my understanding, grammatically correct, but explained that it's not really used in everyday conversation and said that the sentence would normally be expressed as 'I only have to'.

He wanted to know what function the word 'but' is playing in that sentence although I was unable to answer.

Hope you can help.

[grunden]

that is an easy one:

BUT:The buttocks are formed by the masses of the gluteal muscles or 'glutes' (the gluteus maximus and the gluteus medius) superimposed by a layer of fat. The superior aspect of the buttock ends at the iliac crest, and the lower aspect is outlined by the horizontal gluteal crease. The gluteus maximus has two insertion points: 1/3 superior portion of the linea aspera of the femur, and the superior portion of the iliotibial tractus. The masses of the gluteus maximus muscle are separated by an intermediate gluteal cleft or "crack" in which the anus is situated.

I really hope this helps you.

[blurgalurgalurga]

You're right--I think it's doing the same job that 'only' would do.
Like, "I have but to ask, and I will be answered."
It's the same as "I have only to whistle, and my yellow dog will come."
It's a conjunction, in this case, according to dictionary.com.
Interestingly, in the above sentence, 'only' is a conjunction too.
There's probably a way to express that in Classical High Fallutian, which may well be what your CT wants; can't help you there though.

[schwa]

"But" is an adverb in your sentence.

Synonyms: just, merely, only, simply

[blurgalurgalurga]

Oh, an adverb modifying 'have to?' I see.