Obs. Also 5 excercyte. [a. OF. exerciter to exercise, ad. L. exercitāre: see EXERCITANT.] trans. To exercise, practise; to discipline, drill; to wield, bring into play (a weapon).

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1475.  Bk. Noblesse, 27. Good men of armes well lerned and exercited.

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1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 427/4. He excercytyng and ocupyeng hym in thys holy operacion or werke.

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c. 1500.  Melusine, 224. In many other appertyse of armes they exercyted them self.

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1541.  R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 B iij b. The boke of medycamentes, wherin it behoueth to be exercyted who soeuer wyll take any fruyte of these present comentaries.

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1556.  J. O[lde], trans. Walther’s Antichrist, 161. But the material sweord must be exercited for ye churche, & the spiritual sweorde of the churche.

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