Chapter Exception to Expose of E by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

sacer, anyone might kill him with impunity. Anyone who hurt a tribune was held a sacer to the goddess Ceres. Ex in this word is intensitive.

"If anyone hurt a tribune in word or deed, he was held accursed [sacer], and his goods were confiscated." - Livy, iii. 55; see also Dionysius, vi. 89, and viii. 17.

Exequatur An official recognition of a person in the character of consul or commercial agent, authorising him to exercise his power. The word is Latin, and means, "he may exercise" [the function to which he has been appointed].

"The Northern Patriotic League (Oporto) has decided to petition the Government to withdraw the Exequatur from the British Consul here." - Reuter's Telegram, Tuesday, Feb. 11th, 1890.

Exercises Week-day sermons were so called by the Puritans. Hence the title of Morning Exercises, week-day sermons preached in the morning.

Exeter The Duke of Exeter's daughter was a sort of rack invented by the Duke of Exeter during the reign of Henry VI. (Blackstone.)

"I was the lad that would not confess one word ... though they threatened to make me hug the Duke of Exeter's daughter." - Scott: Fortunes of Nigel, xxv.

Exeter Controversy A controversy raised upon a tract entitled Plain Truth, by the Rev. John Agate, of Exeter, an Episcopalian; replied to by several dissenting ministers, as Withers, Trosse, Pierce, etc. (1707-1715.)

Exeter Domesday A record containing a description of Wilts, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall; published by Sir Henry Ellis (in 1816) as a Supplement to the Great Domesday-Book (q.v.). Called "Exon," either because it was at one time kept among the muniments of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, or because the Bishop of Exeter was commissioned to make the survey.

Exhibition My son has got an exhibition at Oxford. An allowance of meat and drink; a benefaction for maintenance. (Latin, exhibitio, an allowance of food and other necessaries, "alimentis exhibere aliquem.")

"They have founded six exhibitions of £15 each per annum, to continue for two years and a half." - Taylor: History of the University of Dublin, chap. v. p. 198.

"I crave fit disposition for my wife,
Due reference of place, and exhibition."
Shakespeare: Othello, i. 3.

Exhibition (The Great) was held in Hyde Park, London, and lasted from May 1 to October 15, 1851.

Exies or Axes. Hysterics; ague fits; any paroxysm.

"Jenny Ritherout has taen the exies, and done naething but laugh and greet ... for twa days successively." - Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary, chap. xxxv.

Exile The Neapolitan Exile. Baron Poerio. One of the kings of Naples promised the people a constitution, but broke his word; whereupon a revolution broke out, and the baron, with many others, was imprisoned for many years in a dreadful dungeon near Naples. He was at length liberated and exiled to America, but compelled the captain to steer for Ireland, and landed at Cork, where he was well received.

Exit (Latin, he goes out). A theatrical term placed at the point when an actor is to leave the stage. We also say of an actor, Exit So-and-so - that is, So-and-so leaves the stage at this point of the drama.
   He made his exit. He left, or died: as, "He made his exit of this life in peace with all the world." Except in the drama, we say, "made or makes his exit." (See above.)

"All the world's stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances."
Shakespeare: As You Like It, ii. 7.

Exodus The Exodus of Israel. The departure of the Israelites from Egypt under the guidance of Moses. We now speak of the Exodus of Ireland - i.e. the departure of the Irish in large numbers for America; the Exodus of the Acadians - i.e. the expulsion of these colonists from Nova Scotia in the reign of George II.; etc. (Greek, ex odos, a journey out.)