Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “exception” come from?

Exception comes from Middle English exception, from Anglo-Norman excepcioun, from Old French excepcion, from Latin exceptio, a noun formed from the prefix ex- meaning "out" and the suffix -tio.

exception (English): The act of excepting or excluding; exclusion;...

Definitions

  1. The act of excepting or excluding; exclusion;...

Ancestry of “exception”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishexception—
2Anglo-Normanexcepcioun—
3Old Frenchexcepcion—
4Latinexceptiō—
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “exception”

  • exceptional
  • exceptionally
  • exceptionalism
  • unexceptionable
  • exceptionable
  • unexceptional
  • exceptionality
  • exceptionalist
  • exceptionless
  • unexceptionably
  • unexceptionally
  • exceptionably
  • nonexceptional
  • exceptionalness
  • unexceptionableness
  • exceptionableness
  • exceptioner
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →