exempt
UK[ɪɡˈzɛmpt]US[ɪɡˈzɛmpt]
v
To free someone from an obligation or rule that applies to others.
adj
Not subject to a rule or obligation.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
empt
ex
out
empt
take
Etymology
The word "exempt" originates from the Latin eximere, meaning "to take out, remove, or make an exception," which is composed of ex- ("out") and emere ("to take"). Its past participle, exemptus ("taken out"), was adopted into Middle English via Old French. The core logic of the word has remained remarkably consistent: the literal sense of being "taken out" from a group or set of conditions evolved directly into the modern abstract meaning of being freed from a common obligation or liability. This etymological journey from a physical act of removal to a legal or formal state of exception clearly illustrates the conceptual link.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + empt (take)
- ex: A Latin prefix meaning "out of, from, thoroughly." It functions as a prepositional prefix indicating removal or separation.
- empt: From the Latin root emere, meaning "to take, buy, gain." In this form, it is the past participle stem (emptus) of the verb, functioning as a bound root meaning "taken."
Examples
His diplomatic status exempted him from paying local taxes.
Children under two are exempt from the admission fee.
The organization is exempt from income tax under charity law.