▪ I. excepting, vbl. n.
(ɛkˈsɛptɪŋ)
[f. except v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb except.
| a 1626 Bacon Jurisdict. Marches Wks. 1740 IV. 136 The excepting of that shire by itself doth fortify that, etc. 1634 Sanderson Serm. II. 288 Here is no excepting against any witness: nor refusal of any judge. |
▪ II. excepting, prep. and conj.
(ɛkˈsɛptɪŋ)
Also 6–7 Sc. excepand, exceptand.
[f. as prec + -ing2.]
A. prep.
1. quasi-prep. The pr. pple. of the vb. used absol.: = ‘If one excepts’.
| 1549 Compl. Scot. xi. 95 Al the irland men ar sklauis til hym, excepand ane certan that kepis them sel on the strait montanis. 1553 Brende Q. Curtius 107 b, He commaunded the baggage..to be brought together in one place excepting only such thinges as were very necessary. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. i. 193 Thy deeds..Hath wonne the greatest fauour of the Commons, Excepting none but good Duke Humfrey. 1637–50 Row Hist. Kirk (1842) 177 That no meetings be among the pastors without his Majestie's consent, exceptand alwayes their ordinarie Sessions. 1693 Dryden Persius Sat. v. 129 May I not live without Control or Awe, Excepting still the Letter of the Law? 1796 Ned Evans I. 146 His neighbours..excepting the article of cash, were..his equals. 1874 Morley Compromise (1886) 105 Of all societies..not even excepting the Roman Republic, England has been the most emphatically..political. |
2. Hence as simple prep.: With the exception of, except.
| 1618 Hales Gold. Rem. (1688) 381 All young Persons, excepting my self. 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. i. iii. (1732) 130 Excepting the Royal Family, they get but little by it. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xxxii, This was received with great approbation by all, excepting my wife. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. iv. 431 They were in possession of the whole of Mysore, excepting the principal forts. 1863 M. Howitt F. Bremer's Greece II. xvi. 149 Nothing to be seen on the place excepting some blocks of marble. |
B. conj.
1. With the exception of the fact that; = except C. 1.
| Mod. The copy is perfectly accurate, excepting that the accents are omitted. |
2. Unless; = except C. 2. In early use occas. with that.
| 1652 Gaule Magastrom. xxvi, Neither doe any kind of men agree more together then astrologers and poets doe, excepting that they dissent about Lucifer and Vesper. c 1714 Lady M. W. Montague Let. to Mrs. Hewet, You see what stuff I am forced to write, but to such I am compelled, excepting I should entertain you with York loves and piques. 1804 Wellington in Owen Disp. 286 Scindiah certainly could have done nothing excepting he could bring his brigades to Poonah. |
3. With adv. or phrase; = except C. 3. Now rare.
| a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 463 Others [fasted], at evening: onely excepting in the weeke before Easter. 1660 Jer. Taylor Duct. Dubit. ii. iii. Rule iv, To it self onely it is to be imputed, excepting where the malice of the first agent hath, etc. 1800 E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. I. 129 Lady Clannarmon (excepting when she forgot me) provided for my maintenance. 1803 Wellington in Owen Disp. 779 The exportation of British manufactures, excepting of military stores, ought to be free. 1849 Sk. Nat. Hist., Mammalia IV. 54 Excepting during the rainy season these little animals can never taste fresh water. |