"The exception that proves the rule"

Posted by Bob on November 19, 2000

In Reply to: "The exception that proves the rule" posted by Patty on November 19, 2000

: What kind of sense does "the exception that proves the rule" make?

: Patty

visit
www.phrases.org.uk bulletin_board 2 messages 325.html
for an earlier discusssion. (But I'll summarize: "prove" used to mean "test" so an exception tests the validity of a rule. This meaning of prove also survives in "the proof (test) of the pudding is in the eating."

• "The exception that proves the rule" joel 11/19/00
  • "The exception that proves the rule" Erin 11/19/00
    • "The exception that proves the rule" Bob 11/20/00