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. Shaks., 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, Presbyteries, and Assemblies.
1693. Dryden, Persius, Sat. v. 129. May I not live without Control or Awe, Excepting still the Letter of the Law?
1796. Hist. 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. 118–9. 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.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. iv. 431. They were in possession of the whole of Mysore, excepting the principal forts.
1863. Mary Howitt, trans. 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, Lett. 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. Mountagu, 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. Mrs. 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.
