something reserved, or set aside, and not included in a rule.

It is become proverbial, that there is no rule without an exception; intimating, that it is impossible to comprehend all the particular cases, under one and the same maxim. But it is dangerous following the exception, preferably to the rule.

in law, denotes a stop or stay to an action; and is either dilatory or peremptory, in proceedings at common law; but in chancery it is what the plaintiff alleges against the sufficiency of an answer, &c.

An exception is no more than the denial of what is taken to be good by the other party, either in point of law or pleading. The counsel in a cause are to take all their exceptions to the record at one time; and before the court has delivered any opinion of it.