Comments on: Gild the lily / Exception proves the rule http://www.word-detective.com/2009/09/gild-the-lily-exception-proves-the-rule/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul http://www.word-detective.com/2009/09/gild-the-lily-exception-proves-the-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-24254 Paul Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:05:02 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=1763#comment-24254 "The exception which proves the rule" continues to baffle me. I've heard so many explanations that I'm convinced no one really knows. I am most satisfied with the explanation that says the proper meaning is that something is such an exception to the history of a certain matter that it actually proves (tests or contests) the validity of the rule itself. Or put a slightly different way: the exception tests the reliability of the rule. Although I would value your comment, I don't think it will change my mind. My understanding of it makes more sense than any other and certainly more sense than the phrase does when it is used today in its purely nonsense application. “The exception which proves the rule” continues to baffle me. I’ve heard so many explanations that I’m convinced no one really knows. I am most satisfied with the explanation that says the proper meaning is that something is such an exception to the history of a certain matter that it actually proves (tests or contests) the validity of the rule itself. Or put a slightly different way: the exception tests the reliability of the rule.

Although I would value your comment, I don’t think it will change my mind. My understanding of it makes more sense than any other and certainly more sense than the phrase does when it is used today in its purely nonsense application.

]]> By: Kim http://www.word-detective.com/2009/09/gild-the-lily-exception-proves-the-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-4811 Kim Thu, 13 May 2010 00:53:00 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=1763#comment-4811 Bruce and Mark, if you substitute "test" for "proves," it does save the meaning, and bring the phrase's common usage into line with its 2nd meaning (look up Fowler), but you only need to do that at all because the phrase has been so often completely misused as nonsense (Fowler, #5) Bruce and Mark, if you substitute “test” for “proves,” it does save the meaning, and bring the phrase’s common usage into line with its 2nd meaning (look up Fowler), but you only need to do that at all because the phrase has been so often completely misused as nonsense (Fowler, #5)

]]> By: rwer http://www.word-detective.com/2009/09/gild-the-lily-exception-proves-the-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-3395 rwer Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:43:31 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=1763#comment-3395 yeah ~ really cool yeah ~
really cool

]]> By: Bruce Welmers http://www.word-detective.com/2009/09/gild-the-lily-exception-proves-the-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-2877 Bruce Welmers Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:13:32 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=1763#comment-2877 When you examine a proposed rule (as in a new theorem in math) one way to find out if it is true is to look for an exception. If you find one the rule is false. This is using an exception to test the rule. That's the old meaning of the word 'prove'. Still used in the form of the 'proof' of alcohol. The modern translation of the old statement is "The exception disproves the rule." When you examine a proposed rule (as in a new theorem in math) one way to find out if it is true is to look for an exception. If you find one the rule is false. This is using an exception to test the rule. That’s the old meaning of the word ‘prove’. Still used in the form of the ‘proof’ of alcohol. The modern translation of the old statement is “The exception disproves the rule.”

]]> By: Mark Priest http://www.word-detective.com/2009/09/gild-the-lily-exception-proves-the-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-2860 Mark Priest Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:51:35 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=1763#comment-2860 Hello, regarding 'the exception proves the rule', your explantion makes a lot of sense. However, I had always thought 'prove' in the phrase was in the sense of 'test', as in 'proving ground', 'proof copy' etc. What are your thoughts? Regards, Mark Priest Hello, regarding ‘the exception proves the rule’, your explantion makes a lot of sense. However, I had always thought ‘prove’ in the phrase was in the sense of ‘test’, as in ‘proving ground’, ‘proof copy’ etc. What are your thoughts?
Regards,
Mark Priest

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