"The exception that proves the rule"

Posted by Martintordoff on November 15, 2001

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

: : : What kind of sense does "the exception that proves the rule" make?
it means to prove is to test the rule

: : : Patty

: I thought it might mean that the exception, by being recognized as *an exception* (and therefore quite rare), served to underscore the general rule of thumb.

: joel