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)