Can you help me understand the meaning of this sentence? [closed]
I came across a sentence which I found hard to comprehend since English isn't my first language.
The sentence is:-
Cleanliness is the virtue most worth having but one.
I couldn't understand the purpose of the usage of "but one" in this sentence.
I'll be grateful if you can shed some light on this.
Thank you.
Solution 1:
Cleanliness is the virtue most worth having but one.
You can paraphrase the sentence in this way:
Aside from one other virtue, cleanliness is the virtue most worth having.
The word but is being used as a preposition.
[Merriam-Webster]
preposition1 a : with the exception of : BARRING
// no one there but me
In other words:
Cleanliness is the virtue most worth having barring one (other).