Subject: Re: [HM] "exception that PROVES the rule"
From: Jim Nicholson (jdn7960@aol.com)
Date: Mon Mar 06 2000 - 22:46:36 EST
Actually, I wanted to look over the possible Latin meanings to make
sure that "exceptio probat regulam" really meant "the exception tests
the rule" as opposed to "the exception proves the rule". However, I
was dismayed to find that it means both:
Possible definitions of "probat"
prob.at V 1 1 PRES ACTIVE IND 3 S X
probo, probare, probavi, probatus
approve, commend, recommend; show; test, try, prove;
So, "the exception commends/tests the rule". Thus, we must conclude
that an exception has nothing to do with the veritude of a rule.
If you think about it, you can make an argument for all three of these
definitions of probat.
Jim Nicholson
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