Unusually good or outstanding; forming an exception to the general rule or standard.
From Latin 'exceptio' meaning 'a taking out' or 'exception,' derived from 'excipere' (to take out, exclude). The modern sense of 'remarkably good' developed in the 19th century from the earlier meaning of 'forming an exception.'
The word 'exceptional' originally had no positive connotation—it simply meant 'different from the norm.' It's a perfect example of how language evolves through euphemism, as we began using it to politely describe people with disabilities ('exceptional children') and eventually it acquired its current meaning of 'extraordinarily good.'
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