except
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Latin exceptus.
Pronunciation [edit]
Verb [edit]
except (third-person singular simple present excepts, present participle excepting, simple past and past participle excepted)
- (transitive) To exclude; to specify as being an exception.
- 2007, Glen Bowersock, ‘Provocateur’, London Review of Books 29:4, p. 17:
- But this [ban on circumcision] must have been a provocation, as the emperor Antoninus Pius later acknowledged by excepting the Jews.
- 2007, Glen Bowersock, ‘Provocateur’, London Review of Books 29:4, p. 17:
- (intransitive) To take exception, to object (to or against).
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, vol. 1, New York Review Books 2001, p. 312:
- Yea, but methinks I hear some man except at these words...
- 1658, Sir Thomas Browne, Urne-Burial, Penguin 2005, p. 23:
- The Athenians might fairly except against the practise of Democritus to be buried up in honey; as fearing to embezzle a great commodity of their Countrey
- 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 96:
- he was a great lover of music, and perhaps, had he lived in town, might have passed for a connoisseur; for he always excepted against the finest compositions of Mr Handel.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, vol. 1, New York Review Books 2001, p. 312:
Translations [edit]
to exclude
to take exception, to object to
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Preposition [edit]
except
- With the exception of; but.
- There was nothing in the cupboard except a tin of beans.
Synonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
with the exception of
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Conjunction [edit]
except
- With the exception (that); used to introduce a clause, phrase or adverb forming an exception or qualification to something previously stated.
- You look a bit like my sister, except she has longer hair.
- I never made fun of her except teasingly.
- (archaic) Unless; used to introduce a hypothetical case in which an exception may exist.
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Luke IX:
- And they sayde: We have no moo but five loves and two fisshes, except we shulde goo and bye meate for all this people.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York 2001, p. 106:
- Offensive wars, except the cause be very just, I will not allow of.
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Luke IX:
Quotations [edit]
- For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.
Translations [edit]
with the exception that
Statistics [edit]
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Most common English words before 1923: hours · clear · pretty · #512: except · sound · didn't · natural