exception

[ik-sep-shuh n] /ɪkˈsɛp ʃən/

noun

the act of excepting or the fact of being excepted.

something excepted; an instance or case not conforming to the general rule.

an adverse criticism, especially on a particular point; opposition of opinion; objection; demurral:

a statement liable to exception.

Law.

an objection, as to a ruling of the court in the course of a trial.
a notation that an objection is preserved for purposes of appeal:
saving an exception.

Idioms

take exception,

to make an objection; demur:
They took exception to several points in the contract.
to take offense:
She took exception to what I said about her brother.

Origin

1350-1400; Middle English excepcioun < Latin exceptiōn (stem of exceptiō), equivalent to except(us) (see except¹) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms

exceptionless, adjective

preexception, noun

Examples from the web for exceptions

No, it will be closed to overnight camping with exceptions.
Feature-length movies in the silent era could run anywhere from six to eight reels, with exceptions for epic productions.
With indignant exceptions, they were excessively and even unthinkingly generous.
More examples may emerge, skeptics add, but these are likely to be the exceptions and not the rule.
However, as in all animals and aspects of life, there are exceptions to every rule.
But those farms are exceptions, symbols of the opulence for which the sport is known.
As a general rule, with the exceptions given below, every motion should be seconded.
Game meat is usually of dark color, partridge and quail being exceptions, and is usually cooked rare.
Of course there are plenty of exceptions to this rule.
It did not feel obliged to take many exceptions to the broad average current of human existence.

British Dictionary definitions for exceptions

exception

/ɪkˈsɛpʃən/

noun

the act of excepting or fact of being excepted; omission

anything excluded from or not in conformance with a general rule, principle, class, etc

criticism, esp when it is adverse; objection

(law) (formerly) a formal objection in the course of legal proceedings

(law) a clause or term in a document that restricts the usual legal effect of the document

take exception

(usually foll by to) to make objections (to); demur (at)
(often foll by at) to be offended (by); be resentful (at)

Word Origin and History for exceptions

exception

late 14c., from Anglo-French excepcioun, Old French excepcion, from Latin exceptionem (nominative exceptio), noun of action from past participle stem of excipere (see except).

The exception that proves the rule is from law: exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis, "the exception proves the rule in cases not excepted;" exception here being "action of excepting" someone or something from the rule in question, not the person or thing that is excepted. To take exception is from excipere being used in Roman law as a modern attorney would say objection.

Idioms and Phrases with exceptions

exception

In addition to the idioms beginning with exception

exception proves the rule, the

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