Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site dual.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!amd!dual!hav From: hav@dual.UUCP (Helen Anne Vigneau) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Semantic Reversals Message-ID: <952@dual.UUCP> Date: Wed, 6-Mar-85 14:54:42 EST Article-I.D.: dual.952 Posted: Wed Mar 6 14:54:42 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 7-Mar-85 06:06:22 EST References: <> <258@unm-cvax.UUCP> <486@ptsfa.UUCP> Organization: Dual Systems, Berkeley, CA Lines: 30 <*munch*> => One curious semantic reversal occurs in the expression: => => The exception proves the rule. => => Originally 'prove' used to mean 'test' (cf. 'probe', a related word). => But as the meaning of this word changed, the expression changed also. => Until I heard of this explanation I [mis]understood this expression => to mean: => => Don't worry about the rule at hand having an exception => since all rules have exceptions, here's the one exception that => qualifies this rule as a true rule. => => Rob Bernardo, Pacific Bell, San Francisco, California => {ihnp4,ucbvax,cbosgd,decwrl,amd70,fortune,zehntel}!dual!ptsfa!rob In German, there's "probieren" meaning "to try" (i.e., to attempt). Another form is "ausprobieren" which means "to try out" (i.e., to sample, as with food). Both are derived from a Latin root. Helen Anne {ucbvax,ihnp4,cbosgd,hplabs,decwrl,unisoft,fortune,sun,nsc}!dual!hav If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.