Jastrow: אֶלָּא

אֶלָּא, (אִלָּא) (contr. of אִן לָא = אִם לֹא) 1) if not, except, but, only. Targ. O. Ex. XV, 11 לית אִ׳ את none but thou, none besides thee; a. e.—Ber. V, 1 אין עומדין … א׳ וכ׳ one must stand up for prayer in no other disposition but that of humility.—Snh. 4ᵃ לא נתן א׳ שלשה he did only three times. Ber. I, 1 ולא זו בלבד (אמרו) א׳ וכ׳ and not only in this case they said so, but wherever &c. Ib. 5ᵃ אל תקרי תְלַמְּדֶנּוּ א׳ תְלַמְּדֵנוּ read not th’lamm’dennu (thou instructest him) but th’lamm’dēnu (thou teachest us); a. v. fr. —2) (ellipt.) (you cannot say anything except …) but, a logical inference excluding all other explanations &c. Ib. 30ᵇ א׳ לא שנא but (the conclusion is proven) there is no difference. Ib. א׳ אמר ר׳ but, said R. … we may derive it &c.; a. fr.