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except for

 - 5 dictionary results

ex⋅cept

1  [ik-sept]
Use except for in a Sentence
–preposition
1. with the exclusion of; excluding; save; but: They were all there except me.
–conjunction
2. only; with the exception (usually fol. by that): parallel cases except that one is younger than the other.
3. otherwise than; but (fol. by an adv., phrase, or clause): well fortified except here.
4. Archaic. unless.
—Idiom
5. except for, if it were not for: She would travel more except for lack of money.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME: orig., ptp. adj. < L exceptus (ptp. of excipere to take out), equiv. to ex- ex- 1 + -ceptus (comb. form of captus, ptp. of capere to take)

Synonyms:
1. Except (more rarely excepting), but, save point out something excluded from a general statement. Except emphasizes the excluding: Take any number except 12. But merely states the exclusion: We ate all but one. Save is now mainly found in poetic use: nothing in sight save sky and sea.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To except for
ex·cept   (ĭk-sěpt')   
prep.  With the exclusion of; other than; but: everyone except me.
conj.  

  1. If it were not for the fact that; only. Often used with that: I would buy the suit, except that it costs too much.

  2. Otherwise than: They didn't open their mouths except to complain.

  3. Unless: "And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st/Except it be to pray against thy foes" (Shakespeare).

v.   ex·cept·ed, ex·cept·ing, ex·cepts

v.   tr.
To leave out; exclude: An admission fee is charged, but children are excepted.
v.   intr.
To object: Counsel excepted to the court's ruling.

[Middle English, from Latin exceptus, past participle of excipere, to exclude : ex-, ex- + capere, to take; see kap- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: Except in the sense of "with the exclusion of" or "other than" is generally viewed as a preposition, not a conjunction. Therefore, a personal pronoun that follows except should be in the objective case: No one except me knew it. Everyone had a ticket except her.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

except 
1377, from L. exceptus, pp. of excipere "take out," from ex- "out" + capere "to take" (see capable). Adjectival function led to use as a preposition, conjunction. To take exception is from excipere being used in Roman law as a modern attorney would say objection. Exceptional was formed 1846.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ex·cept
Pronunciation: ik-'sept
Function: transitive verb
: to take or leave out (as from insurance coverage or a deed) : EXCLUDE excepted the air carriers and unions from the provisions —M. A. Kelly> intransitive verb : OBJECT; especially : to file a bill of exceptions or make a formal exception <excepted to the judge's order>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

except for

Also, with the exception of. Other than, were it not for. For example, Except for Jack, everyone came to the party, or With the exception of the weather, everything went extremely well. [c. 1600]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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