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. [ 1913 Webster ]

exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to the legislature. Jefferson. [ 1913 Webster ]

O we will walk this world,
Yoked in all exercise of noble end. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

An exercise of the eyes and memory. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

The wise for cure on exercise depend. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The performance of an office, a ceremony, or a religious duty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lewis refused even those of the church of England . . . the public exercise of their religion. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

To draw him from his holy exercise. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The clumsy exercises of the European tourney. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

He seems to have taken a degree, and performed public exercises in Cambridge, in 1565. Brydges. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. That which gives practice; a trial; a test. [ 1913 Webster ]

Patience is more oft the exercise
Of saints, the trial of their fortitude. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Exercise bone (Med.), a deposit of bony matter in the soft tissues, produced by pressure or exertion. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Herein do I Exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence. Acts xxiv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

About him exercised heroic games
The unarmed youth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where pain of unextinguishable fire
Must exercise us without hope of end. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. Jer. ix. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Ezek. xxii. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I wear my trusty sword,
When I do exercise. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who exercises. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. one who supervises the exercise of animals, such as horses or dogs. [ PJC ]

3. a device used for exercising muscles; as, a thigh exerciser. [ PJC ]