Forms: 4 esploit(e, 5 explait, expleyte, 5–7 exployt(e, (6 exploicte), 6– exploit. [a. OFr. esplait, esploit m., esploite fem., and their refashioned forms exploit, exploite, etc. = Pr. espleit m., esplecha fem.:—vulgar L. *explic’tum, explic’ta (med.L. esplectum, expletum n., explecta fem.), L. explicitum, explicita, neut. and fem. pples. of explicāre: see EXPLICATE. The etymological sense is thus ‘something unfolded, brought out, or put forth’; the action of unfolding or developing.]
† 1. Advantage, progress, speed, success; furtherance. Const. of. To make exploit: to make speed, to meet with success. Obs.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 258. The sail goth up, and forth they straught, But none esploit therof they caught.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3661. For explait of þere spede, þai spekyn in fere To chese hom a cheftayn.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vi. For he full sory was withouten dread, Of the expleyte and of the happye spede Of this Iason.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clxxvi. 173. Of whose exployt or spede myne auctour maketh no mensyon.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xci. [lxxxvii.] 272. His ambassadours hadde made no better exployte.
† 2. The endeavor to gain advantage or mastery over (a person or place); an attempt to capture or subdue; hence, a military or naval expedition or enterprise. † In exploit: in action or combat. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 87/4. He began to helpe them in theyr exployte of the see and anon the tempest cessed.
1555. W. Watreman, Fardle Facions, II. iii. I i. Thei haue prophecied … vnto Alexandre victory, when he made his exploicte towarde Darius.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, IV. i. 41. I must giue my selfe some hurts, and say I got them in exploit.
a. 1627. J. Hayward, Annals Four Y. Eliz. (1840), 55. The Captaines drewe to consideration all the meanes for the exploit of the towne.
1692. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 495. Captain Mees … has undertaken the exploit of St. Maloes.
1755. Smollett, Quix., II. 249. The glory of having undertaken such an exploit no malice whatsoevr can impair.
b. An enterprise, project. rare (after mod.F.).
1879. Trollope, Thackeray, 80. Thackeray had become big enough to give a special éclat to any literary exploit to which he attached himself.
3. An act or deed; a feat; in modern use, an achievement displaying a brilliant degree of bravery or skill.
c. 1538. R. Cowley, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 126, II. 96. They doo noo exployte not so moche as to shote oon gone.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. ii. 35. Whom corrupting Gold Will tempt vnto a close exploit of Death.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 845. Magicians can doe such exploytes by the devills meanes.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 15. For many years, it was counted a great exploit to pass this strait.
1868. E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. vii. 110. Drake’s exploits strung the patriotism … of the sailors to a lofty pitch.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xix. 308. The conquest of Gaul had been an exploit of extraordinary military difficulty.
† 4. Carrying out, execution, performance. To put in exploit: to put in practice. Obs.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 213. If … the whole exployt of thinges be gouerned by hym.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 75. A … Captaine, who scornes to imitate any stratageme … used by the enemy, though the putting it in exploit might give him assured victory.
† 5. Law. A citation or summons; a writ. Cf. Fr. exploit. Obs.
[1611. Cotgr., Exploict … an adiournement or citation.]
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 457. Neither shall they let or hinder any summons or arrest, exploit or assignement to be done before them.
1682. Warburton, Hist. Guernsey (1822), 82. Exploits, which is the adjourning or citing of such persons, against whom any action is brought.
