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