Forms: see the sb. [f. prec. sb.
The vb. has taken the place of the obsolete EXERCE, and is thus the representative in sense of L. exercēre, Fr. exercer, from which many of its uses are directly taken.]
1. trans. To put in action or motion.
† a. To put in operation, employ, use (an instrument, remedy, or any agency); to work (an animal). Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 299. Vpon the asse, whiche of no man before had ben vsed ne exercised.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. iii. 53. Let us … our weake hands … teach The dreadful speare and shield to exercize.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., To Rdr. A. Some exercising their pipes, some singing roundelaies.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 18. Without the least other Preparation or Mixture exercised upon the Metal it self.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 489/86. Then exercise thy strugling Steers to plough Betwixt thy Vines.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, I. II. ii. 37. My Nurse gave me part of a Straw, which I exercised as a Pike.
1753. Stewart’s Trial, in Scots Mag., March, 493/2. The King’s factor should venture to exercise his Majesty’s property as freely as every subject may do his own.
1792. Munchhausen’s Trav., xx. 66. When they quarrel they exercise a strait horn.
b. To employ, bring to bear, apply (power, skill); to make practical use of (a right or privilege).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 578. Ther as he might his vertu excersise.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Kings xvi. 27. Amri, & all that he dyd, and his power that he exercysed.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. x. (1611), 25. The life is led most happily, wherin all vertue is exercised without impediment.
1622. Massinger, Virg. Mart., I. i. To … exercise that power Heaven has conferr’d upon me.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxviii. 161–2. That right of Punishing, which is exercised in every Common-wealth.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., IV. xiv. § 3. 331. This Faculty of the Mind, when it is exercised immediately about Things, is called Judgment.
1711. E. Fenton, Ep. to Southerne, 11. Nor Sculpture excercis’d her Skill, beneath Her forming Hand to make the Marble breathe.
1836. J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., viii. (1852), 224. The Divine Being both has and exercises the right to forgive without any compensation.
1874. Green, Short Hist., vii. 394. An arbitrary power of imprisonment was still exercised by the Council.
1891. Law Reports, Weekly Notes, 77/1. The co-heiresses could have exercised the trust for sale.
2. To employ habitually, practise (a person); to busy. Const. in. (Now only refl. and pass., with some notion of gaining skill by practice: cf. 3).
1382. Wyclif, 2 Macc. xv. 12. Onye … was exercised, or haunted, in vertues fro a chijld.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 90. Thay [Archers] nedyn to be mich exercysyd in schotyng.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 2. Some … be … moche exercysed in goostly conuersacyon.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 10. He had been wel exercysed in Astronomy. Ibid., 24. They are exercysed in fyshing.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. H j b. Cut off the haire … in such comelie, and decent maner as these barbers exercised therein can doe.
1613. Sir H. Finch, Law (1636), 162. A Clarke of the Crowne … which was neuer exercised in the Office.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., IV. (1702), I. 298. Untainted with any of those vices, which the Officers of that Army were exercised in.
1751. Jortin, Serm. (1771), I. iv. 78. They exhort us to exercise ourselves in godliness.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 223. To give battle to an innumerable people, exercised in arms.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, I. i. 8. Here she usually exercised herself in elegant arts.
1835. Wordsw., C. Lamb. The hermit, exercised in prayer and praise … Is happy.
1874. Mahaffy, Soc. Life Greece, viii. 241. He and his fellows were all exercised as jurymen in deciding political and social disputes.
† b. transf. To employ, occupy (time). Obs.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 94, ¶ 3. Those Parts of Life which are exercised in Study, Reading, and the Pursuits of Knowledge.
† c. To till (the ground); = L. exercēre terram.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. ix. 20. Noe, a man erthe tylyer, began to excersise [1388 tile] the erthe.
1654. R. Codrington, trans. Ivstine’s Hist., 507. To exercise and mitigate the fields with ploughs.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 232/56. Unless the Land with daily Care Is exercis’d.
3. To train by practice; to employ, put into action or movement, for the sake of acquiring skill or strength; to drill (soldiers, etc.), to put through evolutions for practice or display; to put (the limbs, the body) through a course of movements for the sake of strength or health. Also, to subject to ascetic discipline.
1388. Wyclif, 1 Sam. xx. 20. Y schal caste as excercisynge [1382 hauntynge] ether pleiynge me at a signe.
1533. Frith, Another Bk. agst. Rastell, 336. God … left the Philistines to exercise and nurture the children of Israel.
1549. Latimer, 6th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 161. Menne of Englande … when they woulde exercyse theym selues … were wonte to goo a brode in the fyeldes a shootynge.
1557. Bible (Genev.), Heb. v. 14. Them … which through custome haue their wittes exercised, to iudge both good and euyl.
1557. in Babees Bk. (1868), 247. Moderatly exercise your body with some labour.
1684. R. H., School Recreat., 133. Here [in tennis] the body is briskly exercised more than ordinary.
a. 1695. Wood, Life (1848), 266. A company of scholars … exercised themselves in feats of arms privately in All Souls coll. quadrangle.
1743. R. Pococke, Descr. East, I. 57. The Arabs who came out to meet the cashif exercised themselves all the way on horseback.
1825. Carlyle, Schiller, II. (1845), 116. The objects … to which I had been exercising all my powers.
1838. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., II. v. 478. [Ximenes] exercised himself with fasts, vigils, and stripes.
1842. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life, III. ix. 142. He exercised the horses at Newmarket.
b. transf. To practise soldiers in the use of (weapons); to put (a gun) through its evolutions.
1713. Addison, Cato, II. vi. I’ll draw up my Numidian troops to exercise their arms.
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xviii. 109. The gunner gave the word, as if he were exercising the great guns on board ship.
† c. To accustom, inure. Obs.
1558. in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. App. iv. 6. To exercise the Queen’s Majesty’s Subjects to Obedience.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 110. In the mean time exercise them to meat.
4. To give employment to; to engage the attention or feelings of; to tax the powers of.
1538. Starkey, England, II. i. 176. Such poverty, exercysyth wel the pytuose myndys of them wych have enough.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. 71. The continuall Warres which exercised King Darius.
1780. J. Harris, Philol. Enq., Wks. (1841), 394. The authors of our own country … having exercised many critics of learning.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. v. 170. The situation was calculated to exercise Hindu duplicity and address.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 66/1. Various breeds had great celebrity—a celebrity which exercised the pens of their most famous writers.
b. esp. To harass, vex, worry; to afflict, make anxious, ‘prove.’
Originally in religious use with some notion of disciplinary exercise (see 3); the wider use was prob. at first transf. from this. Cf. EXERCISE sb. 6 c.
a. 1555. Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 323. Exercised with my old disease in my head.
1596. Bp. W. Barlow, Three Serm., ii. 87. There is also another cause why God thus exerciseth his children.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1848), 159. Injurious prosecutions, wherewith the governor was afterwards much exercised.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1823), I. 78. God … thought fit to exercise him with calumny.
1722. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. 24. At times his mind was much exercised.
1758. S. Hayward, Serm., xvii. 520. The melancholy disorder he [Job] was exercised with.
a. 1847. Mrs. Sherwood, Lady of Manor, I. iii. 68. The … dispensation with which it had pleased the Almighty to exercise her.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., v. (1889), 42. Tom … [was] much exercised in his mind as to what manner of man he had fallen upon.
1878. Simpson, Sch. Shaks., I. 113. The minds of people at Rome were exercised concerning the division of the expected spoil.
1888. N. & Q., Ser. VII. V. 418. My own housemaid was very much exercised … by an inexplicable tinkling … of her door-bell.
5. To carry on, carry out, perform.
† a. To perform (esp. habitually), practise, take part in (an action, feat, game, etc.); to play (a part). To exercise the great horse (see HORSE).
c. 1430. trans. T. à Kempis, 37. Breþern … þat exercisen not þo þinges as þei are called to!
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xxvii. He neuer exercised any other play or game.
1538. Starkey, England, I. ii. 41. Frely hyt exercysyth vertues actys.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., A iij a. What dyuers operacions exerciseth the Cyrurgyen?
1547. Homilies, I. Short Declar. Faith, I. (1859), 38. The living body of a man ever exerciseth such things as belong to a naturall and living body.
1548. Hall, Chron., 197 b. The Poleaxe (the whiche feate he had greatly exercysed).
1552. Huloet, Tragœdus, he that dothe exercise some parte in a tragedie.
1580. Stow, Ann. (1605), 481. Henry Hotespurre … maketh inuasion vpon them … exercising laudable factes.
1592. Chettle, Kinde-Harts Dr. (1841), 19. But now, I heare, my blinde brother, that exercisde the base.
1644. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 70. Here I … went to see them ride and exercise the great horse.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 551. About him exercis’d Heroic Games Th’ unarmed youth of Heav’n.
1760. C. Johnston, Chrysal (1822), I. 201. The matron … immediately began to exercise her donations to public charities.
† b. To carry on, ply, pursue (an occupation, trade, etc.); to discharge the functions of (an official post); to practise oneself in (an art, language, etc.). Obs.
1467. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 407. The craft that he canne or exercisith.
1511–2. Act 3 Hen. VIII., c. 23 § 9. They … may occupie and excercise their roomes and offices of foreyn Auditours.
1555. Eden, Decades, 35. They had graneges and exercised tyllage.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 61. It … is a kinde of porte towne, hauing a great marte exercised therein.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 13. Many good townes and riche places where clothing is exercised.
1603. Jas. I., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 239, III. 66. We have thought good to appoint … the lord Thomas Howard de Walden to exercise that place.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 396. Which hunting of wilde boares is more exercised by the Germans then by any other Christian nations.
1651. Life Father Sarpi (1676), p. v. In Venice he exercised Merchandise, though with no great prosperity.
1683. Dryden, Life Plutarch, 17. He had neither the leisure to study, not so much as to exercise the Roman language.
1771. Goldsm., Hist. Eng., I. 249. The inhabitants exercised pasture in the open country.
† c. To celebrate, perform (a ceremony, religious service, etc.); to perform the observances of (a religion). Obs.
a. 1400. Cov. Myst., 71. This we clepe festum Encenniorum, The new ffest of whiche iij in the ȝere we exercyse.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 78/3. With the drede of God they excersised the feste of theyr weddynges.
1486. in Lichfield Gild Ord. Owr ordinary visitacion had and exercysed in the chapell of owr lady beside the market place of Lichfeld.
1612. Brerewood, Lang. & Relig., xxvi. 228. The Gregorians … exercise notwithstanding their liturgies in the Greek tongue.
1698. Lassels, Voy. Italy, II. 94. In this place was exercised the first publick profession of Christian religion.
a. 1732. Atterbury, Serm. Matt. xxvii. 25 (Seager). They were permitted by their conquerors freely and publickly to exercise their religion.
1807. J. Johnson, Orient. Voy., 357. They have a regular form of government, and exercise the Mahometan religion.
d. To perform or practise acts of (justice, cruelty, oppression, duplicity, etc.). Cf. 1 b.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., II. xxxii. 25. Gurguncius … exercisyd Iustyce to his subiects.
1548. Hall, Chron., 223. Thei exercised their crueltie, against their awne selfes.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. iv. 82. No longer exercise, Upon a valiant Race, thy harsh … iniuries.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., Matt. vii. 5 (1739), 18/1. To exercise Severity in judging of ourselves.
1791. Burke, Corr. (1844), III. 356. So much perfidy, pride, cruelty, and tyranny, never was exercised in a like case.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. viii. 679. The greatest oppression was evidently exercised upon the unhappy cultivators.
e. To discharge, fulfil (functions); to exert, wield, possess (dominion, jurisdiction, etc.).
1590. Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., IV. i. I exercise a greater name, The scourge of God.
1658. Whole Duty Man, xiv. § 8. 108. Those … who dare presume to exercise the offices of it, without being lawfully called to it.
1690. Locke, Govt., I. ii. § 10. 13 (J.). That Absolute Dominion, which their Governors had a Right to Exercise over them.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. iii. Wks. 1874, I. 47. Government of the … same kind with that, which a master exercises over his servants.
1790. Gouv. Morris, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 117. It engrosses all functions though incapable of exercising any.
1828. D’Israeli, Charles I., I. vi. 150. The late exiles of Protestantism attempted to exercise their ministry.
1880. L. Stephen, Pope, v. 111. Swift did not exercise either so gentle or so imperial a sway as Addison.
f. Of things: To ‘exert,’ possess efficiently (force, influence, effect).
1862. H. Spencer, First Princ., II. iv. § 54 (1875), 178. The force which a given quantity of matter exercises, remains always the same.
1867. Smiles, Huguenots Eng., xi. (1880), 179. The Exodus of the French Protestants exercised a highly important influence on European politics.
6. absol. or intr. for refl. in various senses.
† a. To ply one’s calling, to ‘practise.’ Obs.
1511–2. Act 3 Hen. VIII., c. 11. That noo person … take upon hym to excercise and occupie as a Phisicion.
1565. Act 8 Eliz., c. 13 § 5. Sea-faring Men … may freely and quietly exercise and row in their own Wherries.
† b. To perform one’s office, practise, upon. Also, To treat upon a subject. Obs.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 328. Vrchins Shall for that vast of night, that they may worke, All exercise on thee.
1616. Lane, Sqr.’s Tale, 120. Wheare such surgeons on flesh exercise.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Pref. 6. And lastly, as a close to Smithing, I shall Exercise upon Steel, and its several Sorts.
c. To go through exercises or evolutions; esp. of soldiers, ‘to drill.’
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. vi. 12. I’th’ common shew place, where they exercise.
1678. trans. Gaya’s Art of War, II. 53. Exercise. Ibid., 57. Whilst the Pikes are exercising, the Musketteers are made to order, or rest upon their Arms.
1697. Potter, Antiq. Greece, I. viii. (1715), 38. For … Wrestlers, Dancers, and all others that would, to Exercise at the same Time.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, 64. In which I bear my trusty sword When I do exercise.
† d. To take exercise. Obs.
1655. Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv. (1746), 211. Thirdly, Exercise not presently upon it [milk].
a. 1699. Temple, Health & Long Life, Wks. 1720, I. 279. For in the course of common Life, a Man must either often Exercise, or Fast, or take Physick, or be sick.
1734. J. Rogers, Ess. Epid. Dis., 257. A spare Diet is necessary, when we can’t Exercise.
† 7. intr. To conduct or engage in a religious exercise or service; to expound or interpret Scripture. Obs. exc. Hist. Cf. EXERCISE sb. 10.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., Contents, Leaving the inferiour manner of exercising which hee used among the Israelites.
1635. Winthrop, New Eng. (1853), I. 214. Mr. Shepherd prayed with deep confession of sin, etc., and exercised out of Eph. v.
1649. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 38. Lieutenant-Gen. Cromwell … exercised yesterday at Whitehall, to inquire of the Lord [etc.].
1663. P. Henry, Diaries & Lett. (1882), 130. In ye morning I exercis’d at home, I hope to edification.
