Exercise \Ex"er*cise\, n. [F. exercice, L. exercitium, from exercere, exercitum, to drive on, keep, busy, prob. orig., to thrust or drive out of the inclosure; ex out + arcere to shut up, inclose. See Ark.]

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. ``Desire of knightly exercise.'' --Spenser.

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.

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.

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.

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

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Exercise \Ex"er*cise\, v. 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Exercise \Ex"er*cise\, 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 exercise for health or amusement.

I wear my trusty sword, When I do exercise. --Cowper.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)