butan

merely, only, just

Þā næs iċ būtan ċild.

I was but a child then.

unless

Būtan ġē hit ġelīefen, ne magon ġē hit understandan.

Unless you believe it, you can't understand it.

c. 992, Ælfric, "The Universal Faith"

except for, but

Hwæt is līf būtan swefn?

What is life but a dream?

except

On ōðre wīsan wē sċēawiaþ mētinge and on ōðre wīsan stafas. Ne gǣþ nā māre tō mētinge būtan þæt þū hit ġesēo and herie. Nis nā ġenōg þæt þū stafas sċēawiġe būtan þū hīe ēac rǣde and þæt andġiet understande.

We look at pictures in one way and letters in another. You don't do anything with a painting except see it and praise it. Looking at letters is not enough unless you also read them and understand the meaning.

c. 992, Ælfric, "Midlent Sunday"

without, except for, besides

Hū biþ middanġeard būtan ūs?

What will the world be like without us?

outside of

Suburbānus: sē þe sitt būtan þǣre byrġ.

Suburbanus: someone who lives outside the city.

c. 995, Ælfric, on Grammar in English

for all, despite, in spite of, notwithstanding