Exercise

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: ex=er=cise

CIDE DICTIONARY

Exercise, 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.].

•  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."  [1913 Webster]

  "O we will walk this world,
  Yoked in all exercise of noble end."  [1913 Webster]
•  Exertion for the sake of training or improvement whether physical, intellectual, or moral; practice to acquire skill, knowledge, virtue, perfectness, grace, etc.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

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

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

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

  "He seems to have taken a degree, and performed public exercises in Cambridge, in 1565."  [1913 Webster]
•  That which gives practice; a trial; a test.  [1913 Webster]

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

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

Exercise, 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 train; to exert repeatedly; to busy.  [1913 Webster]

  "Herein do I Exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence."  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]

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

Exercise, 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."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Exercise, n. & v.
--n.
1 activity requiring physical effort, done esp. as training or to sustain or improve health.
2 mental or spiritual activity, esp. as practice to develop a skill.
3 (often in pl.) a particular task or set of tasks devised as exercise, practice in a technique, etc.
4 a the use or application of a mental faculty, right, etc. b practice of an ability, quality, etc.
5 (often in pl.) military drill or manoeuvres.
6 (foll. by in) a process directed at or concerned with something specified (was an exercise in public relations).
--v.
1 tr. use or apply (a faculty, right, influence, restraint, etc.).
2 tr. perform (a function).
3 a intr. take (esp. physical) exercise; do exercises. b tr. provide (an animal) with exercise. c tr. train (a person).
4 tr. a tax the powers of. b perplex, worry.

Idiom

exercise book
1 a book containing exercises.
2 a book for writing school work, notes, etc., in.

Derivative

exercisable adj. exerciser n.

Etymology

ME f. OF exercice f. L exercitium f. exercere exercit- keep at work (as EX-(1), arcere restrain)

THESAURUS

Exercise

Nachtmusik, abrade, absolute music, absorb, absorb the attention, act, acting, action, active use, activism, activity, adaptation, aerobics, agency, aggravate, agitate, air varie, aleatory, aleatory music, annoy, appliance, application, apply, apprentice, apprenticeship, arrangement, arrest, assignment, athletics, baccalaureate service, badger, bait, basic training, be at, bedevil, behavior, beset, bestow, boning, bother, brainwork, break, break in, breaking, breather, breed, breeding, bring to bear, bring up, bristle, brown off, bug, bullyrag, burden, burn up, busywork, calisthenics, callisthenics, carry on, catch, celebration, ceremonial, ceremony, chafe, chalk talk, chamber music, chamber orchestra, chare, charge, charm, chivy, chore, commencement, commission, composition, concern, condition, conditioning, conduct, conning, constitutional, consumption, contemplation, convocation, cram, cramming, cultivate, cultivation, daily dozen, descant, develop, development, devil, direction, discharge, discipline, discompose, discourse, disquisition, distemper, distress, disturb, do, do with, dog, doing, drill, drilling, driving, duty, effect, electronic music, employ, employment, empty formality, enchant, engage, engage in, engage the attention, engage the mind, engage the thoughts, engross, engross the mind, engross the thoughts, engrossment, enthrall, errand, etude, exasperate, execute, execution, exercises, exercising, exert, exertion, exploit, exposition, extensive study, fascinate, fash, fetch up, fetching-up, fish to fry, fit, fix, follow, form, formal, formality, foster, fostering, fret, function, functioning, gall, get, go in for, good use, grab, graduation, graduation exercises, grind, grinding, grip, gripe, groom, grooming, gymnastic exercises, gymnastics, handle, handling, harangue, harass, hard usage, hard use, harmonization, harry, headwork, heckle, hector, hold, hold spellbound, hold the interest, homework, homily, hound, house-train, housebreak, housebreaking, hypnotize, ill use, immerse, improve, improvement, in-service training, inaugural, inauguration, incidental music, initiation, inspection, instruction, instrumental music, invention, involve, involve the interest, irk, irritate, isometrics, job, job of work, labor, lecture, lecture-demonstration, lesson, lick into shape, limber up, liturgy, lucubration, make use of, make-work, manage, management, manipulate, manipulation, manual training, matters in hand, mental labor, mesmerize, miff, military training, mission, misuse, molest, monopolize, moral, moral lesson, morality, moralization, movement, movements, mummery, nag, needle, nettle, nocturne, nudzh, nurse, nurture, nurturing, object lesson, observance, obsess, occupation, occupy, occupy the attention, odd job, office, on-the-job training, operancy, operate, operation, operations, opus, orchestration, peeve, performance, performing, persecute, perturb, perusal, pester, physical education, physical jerks, pick on, piece, piece of work, pique, plague, play, pluck the beard, ply, pother, practice, praxis, preachment, preoccupy, preparation, prepare, production, program music, project, prosecute, provoke, pursue, put forth, put in tune, put into practice, put out, put to school, put to use, raise, raising, reading, ready, readying, rear, rearing, recital, recitation, rehearsal, rehearse, religious ceremony, responsibility, restudy, restudying, review, ricercar, ride, rile, rite, rite de passage, rite of passage, ritual, roil, rough usage, ruffle, running, score, send to school, sermon, service, set, set task, setting-up exercises, skull session, sloyd, solemnity, solemnization, sonata, sonatina, specialize in, spellbind, steering, stint, stretch, string orchestra, string quartet, study, studying, subject, swing, swotting, tackle, take in hand, take on, take to, take up, talk, task, teaching, tease, theme and variations, things to do, throw, torment, train, training, trio, trouble, try, try the patience, tweak the nose, undertake, upbringing, usage, use, using up, utilization, utilize, variation, vex, vocational education, vocational training, wage, warm up, warm-up, wide reading, wield, work, work at, work out, working, working-out, workings, workout, worry, wrong use, yoga

ROGET THESAURUS

Exercise

Business

N business, occupation, employment, pursuit, what one is doing, what one is about, affair, concern, matter, case, matter in hand, irons in the fire, thing to do, agendum, task, work, job, chore, errand, commission, mission, charge, care, duty, part, role, cue, province, function, lookout, department, capacity, sphere, orb, field, line, walk, walk of life, beat, round, routine, race, career, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, vocation, calling, profession, cloth, faculty, industry, art, industrial arts, craft, mystery, handicraft, trade, exercise, work, avocation, press of business, businesslike, workaday, professional, official, functional, busy, on hand, in hand, in one's hands, afoot, on foot, on the anvil, going on, acting, in the course of business, all in one's day's work, professionally Adj, a business with an income at its heels, amoto quaeramus seria ludo, par negotiis neque supra.

Use

N use, employ, employment, exercise, exercitation, application, appliance, adhibition, disposal, consumption, agency, usufruct, usefulness, benefit, recourse, resort, avail, utilization, service, wear, usage, in use, used, well-worn, well-trodden, useful, subservient.

VB use, make use of, employ, put to use, put in action, put in operation, put in practice, set in motion, set to work, ply, work, wield, handle, manipulate, play, play off, exert, exercise, practice, avail oneself of, profit by, resort to, have recourse to, recur to, take betake oneself to, take up with, take advantage of, lay one's hands on, try, render useful, mold, turn to account, turn to use, convert to use, utilize, work up, call into play, bring into play, put into requisition, call forth, draw forth, press into service, enlist into the service, bring to bear upon, devote, dedicate, consecrate, apply, adhibit, dispose of, make a handle of, make a cat's-paw of, fall back upon, make a shift with, make the most of, make the best of, use up, swallow up, consume, absorb, expend, tax, task, wear, put to task.

Action

N action, performance, doing perpetration, exercise, excitation, movement, operation, evolution, work, labor, praxis, execution, procedure, handicraft, business, agency, deed, act, overt act, stitch, touch, gest transaction, job, doings, dealings, proceeding, measure, step, maneuver, bout, passage, move, stroke, blow, coup, coup de main, coup d'etat, tour de force, feat, exploit, achievement, handiwork, workmanship, manufacture, stroke of policy, actor, doing, acting, in action, in harness, on duty, in operation, in the act, in the midst of, in the thick of, red-handed, in flagrante delicto, while one's hand is in, action is eloquence, actions speak louder than words, actum aiunt ne agas, awake, arise, or be forever fall'n, dii pia facta vident, faire sans dire, fare fac, fronte capillata post est occasio calva, our deeds are sometimes better than our thoughts, the great end of life is not knowledge but action, thought is the soul of act, vivre-ce nest pas respirer c'est agir, we live in deeds not years.

VB do, perform, execute, achieve, transact, enact, commit, perpetrate, inflict, exercise, prosecute, carry on, work, practice, play, employ oneself, ply one's task, officiate, have in hand, labor, be at work, pursue a course, shape one's course, act, operate, take action, take steps, strike a blow, lift a finger, stretch forth one's hand, take in hand, put oneself in motion, put in practice, carry into execution, act upon, be an actor, take a part in, act a part in, play a part in, perform a part in, participate in, have a hand in, have a finger in the pie, have to do with, be a party to, be a participator in, bear a hand, lend a hand, pull an oar, run in a race, mix oneself up with, be in action, come into operation.

Exertion

N exertion, effort, strain, tug, pull, stress, throw, stretch, struggle, spell, spurt, spirt, stroke of work, stitch of work, a strong pull a long pull and a pull all together, dead lift, heft, gymnastics, exercise, exercitation, wear and tear, ado, toil and trouble, uphill work, hard work, warm work, harvest time, labor, work, toil, travail, manual labor, sweat of one's brow, swink, drudgery, slavery, fagging, hammering, limae labor, industry, industriousness, operoseness, operosity, trouble, pains, duty, resolution, energy, laboring, laborious, operose, elaborate, strained, toilsome, troublesome, wearisome, uphill, herculean, gymnastic, palestric, hard-working, painstaking, strenuous, energetic, hard at work, on the stretch, laboriously, lustily, pugnis et calcibus, with might and main, with all one's might, with a strong hand, with a sledge hammer, with much ado, to the best of one's abilities, totis viribus, vi et armis, manibus pedibusque, tooth and nail, unguibus et rostro, hammer and tongs, heart and soul, through thick and thin, by the sweat of one's brow, suo Marte, aide-toi le ciel t'aidera, and still be doing, never done, buen principio la mitad es hecha, cosa ben fatta e' fatta due volie, it is better to wear out than to rust out, labor omnia vincit, labor, wide as the earth, has its summit in Heaven, le travail du corps delivre des peines de l'esprit, manu forti, ora et labora.

Agency

N agency, operation, force, working, strain, function, office, maintenance, exercise, work, swing, play, interworking, interaction, procurement, causation, instrumentality, influence, action, modus operandi, quickening power, maintaining power, sustaining power, home stroke, operative, efficient, efficacious, practical, effectual, at work, on foot, acting, in operation, in force, in action, in play, in exercise, acted upon, wrought upon, by the agency of through, by means of, I myself must mix with action lest I wither by des.

Teaching

N teaching, instruction, edification, education, tuition, tutorage, tutelage, direction, guidance, opsimathy, qualification, preparation, training, schooling, discipline, excitation, drill, practice, book exercise, persuasion, proselytism, propagandism, propaganda, indoctrination, inculcation, inoculation, advise, explanation, lesson, lecture, sermon, apologue, parable, discourse, prolection, preachment, chalk talk, Chautauqua, exercise, task, curriculum, course, course of study, grammar, three R's, initiation, A, B, C, elementary education, primary education, secondary education, technical education, college education, collegiate education, military education, university education, liberal education, classical education, religious education, denominational education, moral education, secular education, propaedeutics, moral tuition, gymnastics, calisthenics, physical drill, physical education, sloyd, phonics, rote, rote memorization, brute memory, cooperative learning, Montessori method, ungraded classes, test, examination, exam, final exam, mid-term exam grade, score, marks, A, B, C, D, E, F, gentleman's C, pass, fail, incomplete, homework, take-home lesson, exercise for the student, theme, project, teaching, taught, educational, scholastic, academic, doctrinal, disciplinal, instructive, instructional, didactic, propaedeutic, propaedeutical, the schoolmaster abroad, a bovi majori disscit arare minor, adeo in teneris consuecere multum est, docendo discimus, quaenocent docent, qui docet discit, sermons in stones and good in everything.

VB teach, instruct, educate, edify, school, tutor, cram, prime, coach, enlighten, inculcate, indoctrinate, inoculate, infuse, instill, infix, ingraft, infiltrate, imbue, impregnate, implant, graft, sow the seeds of, disseminate, given an idea of, put up to, put in the way of, set right, sharpen the wits, enlarge the mind, give new ideas, open the eyes, bring forward, teach the young idea how to shoot, improve, expound, lecture, read a lesson, give a lesson, give a lecture, give a sermon, give a discourse, incept, hold forth, preach, sermonize, moralize, point a moral, train, discipline, bring up, bring up to, form, ground, prepare, qualify, drill, exercise, practice, habituate, familiarize with, nurture, drynurse, breed, rear, take in hand, break, break in, tame, preinstruct, initiate, inure, put to nurse, send to school, direct, guide, direct attention to, impress upon the mind, impress upon the memory, beat into, beat into the head, convince, book, workbook, exercise book, preach to the wise, teach one's grandmother to suck eggs, teach granny to suck eggs, preach to the converted.