ppl. a. [f. prec. + -ED1.]
† 1. Thrust out; projecting; EXSERTED. Obs.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, XI. 944. Resistless, through the War, Camilla rode … One side was bare for her exerted Brest.
1698. Tyson, in Phil. Trans., XX. 113. Eyes Black, small, vivid and exerted.
1756. T. Amory, J. Buncle (1770), I. xiii. 51. Its exerted clavicle has several volutions.
1816. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., iv. (1828), I. 121. With a very long exerted sting.
1823. W. Scoresby, Jrnl. Whale-Fishery, 418. The front teeth of both jaws would appear to be exerted during the life of the animal.
2. Roused to effort; brought into vigorous action; strained.
1675. M. Clifford, Hum. Reason, in Phenix (1708), II. 550. Men often move their Bodies, without any particular exerted Thought of doing so.
1701. Rowe, Amb. Step-Moth., I. The utmost Power of my exerted Soul Preserves a being only for your service.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, XVII. 767. His exerted sight Pass’d this and that way, through the ranks of fight. Ibid., XVII. 833. Two mules … with exerted strength, Drag some vast beam.
Hence Exertedness, rare–1, the quality of being exerted or brought into vigorous action.
1681. H. More, Expos. Daniel, iii. 74. The ethereal purity, exertedness, and activity of their [Angels’] nature.
