Subject: Re: [HM] "exception that PROVES the rule"
From: John Harper (John.Harper@MCS.VUW.AC.NZ)
Date: Wed Mar 01 2000 - 15:02:42 EST
On Wed, 1 Mar 2000, Romulo Lins wrote:
> It would be interesting to know whether, for some reason, when 'prove'
> entered English language from old French only one meaning, ie 'testing',
> was imported. That would make Landau's point. Otherwise I would stand
> with my colleague's suggestion.
The big Oxford English Dictionary is always the place to look first for
that sort of thing. In this case it seems that both meanings were already
in use in English 775 years ago, and about the same time as each other.
John Harper, School of Mathematical and Computing Sciences,
Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand
e-mail john.harper@vuw.ac.nz phone (+64)(4)463 5341 fax (+64)(4)463 5045
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