a. [f. EXCEPTI-ON + -OUS, after the analogy of captious.] Disposed to make objections; cavilling, peevish, captious.
1602. W. Bas, Sword & Buckler, B ij. While those things that are done must alwaies lye, As obiects to a nice exceptious eye.
1769. Chesterf., Lett., 301. It is the character of Country Ladies to be exceptious, and suspicious of slights.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t. (1824), II. vi. 141. He was not exceptious. He gave a cordial welcome to all sorts, provided they were the best in their kind.
1850. W. C. Macready, in Pollock, Remin., II. 353. [Carlyle] was quite in one of his exceptious moods.
Hence Exceptiousness.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. (1687), I. 8. It [admonition] becomes unsavory and odious, and … resembles a froward, malitious, exceptiousness.
1688. Collier, Several Disc. (1725), 316. The blessed Spirits … are too good to have anything of State or Exceptiousness in them.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), X. ix. 282. Alarmed by an experience of the baseness … and the exceptiousness of men.
1818. in Todd, etc.
