I. ikˈsept, ek- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English excepten, from Middle French excepter, from Latin exceptare, from exceptus, past participle of excipere, to take out, make an exception of, take, receive, from ex- ex- (I) + -cipere (from capere to take) — more at heave
transitive verb
1. : to take or leave out (something) from a number or a whole : exclude or omit (as from consideration)
it is desirable to except all first-calf heifers in determining butterfat production averages
2. obsolete : to offer as objection ; also : to protest against
intransitive verb
1. : to take exception : object — usually used with to, sometimes with against
except to a witness
except thou wilt except against my love — Shakespeare
2. : to enter an exception in law
II. ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷, rapid (ˌ)sep(t) preposition
also excepting
Etymology: except from Middle English, from Latin exceptus, past participle; excepting from Middle English, from present participle of excepten
1. : with the exclusion or exception of
the stores will remain open daily except Sundays
excepting Christmas we did not have one really pleasant holiday
: save
he could do little except write
2. : otherwise, elsewhere, or for other reason than : other than : but
you cannot hope to keep them except in sealed containers
you could never have lost your way except by your own carelessness
I take no orders except from the king — G.B.Shaw
III. conjunction
also excepting
Etymology: except from Middle English, from Latin exceptus, past participle; excepting from excepting, preposition
1. : on any other condition than that : unless
I will not let thee go, except thou bless me — Gen 32:26 (Authorized Version)
horses had been man's only means of land travel, except he walked — Hugh McCausland
I wouldn't go near the old gossip except I had to
never does he sit down at table except it is crowded with guests — Upton Sinclair
2. : only — used with or without that
I would buy a new suit except I have no money
a furious energy drove me to all kinds of bodily and mental exercise, without any particular direction except that I felt sure I was going to be a great poet — John Reed
IV. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English excepten, from Latin exceptus, past participle
obsolete : accept