Obs. Forms: 5 excersite, -yte, 5–6 exercite, -citie, -cyte. [a. OF. exercite, of obscure formation; perh. f. exerciter (see EXERCITE v.); possibly ad. L. exercitus (see prec.).] In various senses of EXERCISE sb. Drilling (of soldiers); practice (of virtue, etc.); occupation (of time); discharge (of the duties of an office); also, exercite of = practices preparatory to.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 20. It is tyme … to forsake the false goddes … whyche … do no thynge but excersite of dampnacyon. Ibid. (1489), Faytes of A., I. vii. 15. The excercyte of their offyce.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), III. iii. 148. Excellente in contemplacyon, & in the exercyte or usynge of lyfe spyrytuall.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), R iij a. The kepyng of hyr selfe [Lucrece] close in her house, the exercytie of her tyme.
