Exceptional means far better or far more unusual than the rest. An exceptional talent, exceptional circumstances, exceptionally good.
It does two quite different jobs. As praise it means outstanding — an exceptional performance. As a description it means out of the ordinary without implying quality: exceptional circumstances, which in policy and law means a case the normal rule was not written for. Note exceptionally, which is used as a plain intensifier; and exception, from the same root about taking out.
1adjectiveexceptionalFar better than the rest.
“She's an exceptional student, and her teachers expect her to go far.”
2adjectiveordinaryOut of the ordinary, without implying quality.
“Leave will only be given in exceptional cases, such as a family emergency.”
exceptional is a quality of being unusual.
Latin
exceptiō
Anglo-Norman
excepcioun
Middle English
exception
English
exception
English, today
exceptional
From exception + -al. exception comes from Middle English exception, from Anglo-Norman excepcioun, from excepcion, from Latin exceptiō. From Middle English exception, excepcioun, from Anglo-Norman excepcioun, from Old French excepcion, from Latin exceptiō. Equivalent to except + ion.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA