Irrational HatredPeople who say "less" when they mean "fewer" ought to be turned into soup, the soup fed to baboons and the baboons fired into an active volcano. What has you grinding your teeth with rage, and why?
Suggested by Smash Monkey
(
Scaryduck LIKES EGG, Thu 31 Mar 2011, 14:36)
« Go Back | See The Full Thread
Your explanation is mistaken.It's a term from medieval law (exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis: "the exception confirms the rule in cases not excepted"); basically, it says that the mere fact that an exception can or should be made proves that there is a rule to begin with.
(
Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 1 Apr 2011, 10:50,
1 reply)
NopeThe OP is correct - just look at the phrase 'proving ground' (i.e. a testing ground, not a place where you go to prove yourself).
(, Mon 4 Apr 2011, 11:23, closed)
Enzyme must be very good at Latin if he just made that phrase up in order to be wrong.
(, Tue 5 Apr 2011, 17:17, closed)
This goes all the way back to Cicero - nothing to do with "proving grounds" (cf. proving bread btw).
Wikipedia summarises Fowler's take on it, and it's as described in Enzyme's reply.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exceptio_probat_regulam
(, Tue 5 Apr 2011, 22:41, closed)
« Go Back | See The Full Thread