"The exception that proves the rule"

Posted by Bob November 19, 2000In 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."

Replies

"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