exercise

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.

   • The teacher told us that the next exercise is to write an essay.
   • Where noyse of armes, or vew of martiall guize / Might not reuiue desire of knightly exercize.
   • an exercise of the eyes and memory
2. 2

   Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.

   • I like to do my exercises every morning before breakfast. I do calisthenics for physical exercise, and I do crosswords for mental exercise.
   • Regular mental exercise keeps the circuits of the brain active and healthy and reduces the risk of dementia.
3. 3

   A setting in action or practicing

   A setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use.

   • The law guarantees us the free exercise of our rights.
   • We urge the exercise of patience and restraint.
   • December 8, 1801, Thomas Jefferson, first annual message exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to the legislature
4. ›+ 7 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty.

      • I assisted the ailing vicar in the exercise of his parish duties.
      • Lewis[…] refused even those of the church of England[…]the public exercise of their religion.
      • He doth entreat your Grace, my noble lord, To visit him tomorrow or next day. To draw him from his holy exercise.
   2. 5

      That which gives practice

      That which gives practice; a trial; a test.

      • But patience is more oft the exerciſe / Of Saints, the trial of thir fortitude,
   3. 6

      To exert for the sake of training or improvement

      To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop.

      • to exercise troops or horses;  to exercise one's brain with a puzzle
   4. 7

      To perform physical activity for health or training.

      • I exercise at the gym every day.
   5. 8

      To use (a right, an option, etc.)

      To use (a right, an option, etc.); to put into practice.

      • exercise caution
      • The tenant exercised his option to renew the tenancy.
      • She is going to exercise her right to vote.
   6. 9

      To occupy the attention and effort of

      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.

      • exercised with pain
      • It is not a question that has exercised me greatly in the past.
      • Where pain of unextinguiſhable fire / Muſt exerciſe us without hope of end
   7. 10

      To set in action

      To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to.

      • And herein doe I exercise my selfe to haue alwayes a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
      • Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence.

The neighborhood

• neighbortrain
• neighborwork out
• neighborexorcise