"Exception proves the rule"

Posted by Bob on January 22, 2000

In Reply to: "Exception proves the rule" posted by Ashil Gosalia 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."

Quite right. The sense also survives to this day in "the proof (test) of the pudding is in the eating."