"Exception proves the rule"
Posted by Ashil Gosalia on January 22, 2000
In Reply to: "Exception proves the rule" posted by Sammy Peckham on January 22, 2000
I actually know this, it was in English class at my University. In old English, when the quote originated, "proves" was used to mean "tests." Thus, a more accurate modern day translation does make sense, to say, "The exception tests the rule."