Exercise — Defs

01 n. The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use; habitual a…

1.
The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use; habitual activity; occupation, in general; practice.
“exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to the legislature.” — Jefferson.

“O we will walk this world, Yoked in all exercise of noble end.” — Tennyson.
2.
Exertion for the sake of training or improvement whether physical, intellectual, or moral; practice to acquire skill, knowledge, virtue, perfectness, grace, etc.
“An exercise of the eyes and memory.” — Locke.
3.
Bodily exertion for the sake of keeping the organs and functions in a healthy state; hygienic activity; as, to take exercise on horseback; to exercise on a treadmill or in a gym.
“The wise for cure on exercise depend.” — Dryden.
4.
The performance of an office, a ceremony, or a religious duty.
“Lewis refused even those of the church of England . . . the public exercise of their religion.” — Addison.

“To draw him from his holy exercise.” — Shak.
5.
That which is done for the sake of exercising, practicing, training, or promoting skill, health, mental, improvement, moral discipline, etc.; that which is assigned or prescribed for such ends; hence, a disquisition; a lesson; a task; as, military or naval exercises; musical exercises; an exercise in composition; arithmetic exercises.
“The clumsy exercises of the European tourney.” — Prescott.

“He seems to have taken a degree, and performed public exercises in Cambridge, in 1565.” — Brydges.
6.
That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
“Patience is more oft the exercise Of saints, the trial of their fortitude.” — Milton.

Phrases & compounds

Exercise bone — a deposit of bony matter in the soft tissues, produced by pressure or exertion.

02 v. t. To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to; to put in action habitually or constantly; to school or t…

imp. & p. p. Exercised; p. pr. & vb. n. Exercising

1.
To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to; to put in action habitually or constantly; to school or train; to exert repeatedly; to busy.
“Herein do I Exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence.” — Acts xxiv. 16.
2.
To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop; hence, also, to improve by practice; to discipline, and to use or to for the purpose of training; as, to exercise arms; to exercise one's self in music; to exercise troops.
“About him exercised heroic games The unarmed youth.” — Milton.
3.
To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious; to affect; to discipline; as, exercised with pain.
“Where pain of unextinguishable fire Must exercise us without hope of end.” — Milton.
4.
To put in practice; to carry out in action; to perform the duties of; to use; to employ; to practice; as, to exercise authority; to exercise an office.
“I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.” — Jer. ix. 24.

“The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery.” — Ezek. xxii. 29.

03 v. i. To exercise one's self, as under military training; to drill; to take exercise; to use action or exertion; to practice gymnastics; as, to e…

1.
To exercise one's self, as under military training; to drill; to take exercise; to use action or exertion; to practice gymnastics; as, to exercise for health or amusement.
“I wear my trusty sword, When I do exercise.” — Cowper.