exercisen.
/ˈɛksəsʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈɛksərˌsaɪz/ 1.
a. The action of employing in its appropriate activity (an organ, a faculty, or power), of giving practical effect to (a right), of exerting (influence or authority); the state or condition of being in active operation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > practice, exercise, or doing > [noun] > exercising or exerting (a faculty or power)
exercisec1340
exercitationc1374
enhaunting1382
exercising1508
exercition1525
execution1581
forthputting1640
exertinga1676
exertiona1676
c1340 R. Rolle Psalter iii. 5 I rase fra ded til lyf, fra ydelnes til excercise in godis seruys.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles iv. 38 These mouthes..are now staru'de [for w]ant of exercise . View more context for this quotation
1659 J. Pearson Expos. Creed (1839) 331 Thou shalt not suffer me..to continue without exercise, or power of exercising my vital faculty.
1698 Mem. E. Ludlow (1751) I. 246 Whether the House of Commons should take advice of the House of Lords in the exercise of the legislative power?
1729 Bp. J. Butler Serm. iv, in Wks. (1874) II. 46 Their conversation is merely an exercise of the tongue.
1792 J. Almon Anecd. Life W. Pitt (octavo ed.) II. xxix. 129 The exercise of this, their constitutional right, of giving..their own money.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe II. vii. 118 A large mouthful, which required the exercise of both jaws at once.
1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. i, in Lamia & Other Poems 151 Godlike exercise Of influence benign.
a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1859) I. i. 8 The one condition under which all powers..are developed, is exercise.
1879 ‘G. Eliot’ College Breakfast Party in Macmillan's Mag. July 164 That exercise of soul Which lies in full obedience.
1890 C. Bowen in Law Times Rep. 63 735/1 Such a matter as this is not one for the exercise of the judge's discretion.
b. The use of or method of using (a weapon).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > [noun] > use or method of use
exercise1490
exercising1616
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xiv. 50 The excercyse of armes is dyscontynued.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 161 Nerves hardened with the continuall exercise of the sling.
1678 tr. L. de Gaya Art of War ii. 57 The Exercise of the Pike.
1680 Eng. Mil. Discipl. (new ed.) i. 2 The Officer must first command Silence, and then proceed..to the Exercise of the Musquet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [noun] > practising habitually
hauntc1405
practicec1487
custom1526
exercise1551
accustomation1605
enurement1611
frequency1615
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Qvii Thinkinge felicitie after this liffe to be gotten..by..good exercises.
1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. v. ii. §2. 377 So he makes it his exercise, to torment and murder all, whom he suspecteth.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iv. vii. 85 Hunting was his dayly Exercise . View more context for this quotation
1668 in T. W. Marsh Some Rec. Early Friends Surrey & Sussex vii. 57 This is none of the Quakers exercise.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) i. ii His Exercise by Day and Night To search his Soul-converting Word.
3. The practice (of virtues or vices); the habitual carrying out (of any particular kind of conduct); the practice or fulfilment of the duties of (a profession, office, etc.); the execution of (functions).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > practice, exercise, or doing > [noun]
workingOE
hauntinga1325
exercise1393
occupation1432
exercite1485
practicec1487
function1576
exercitation1579
extent1594
gestion1599
prosecution1605
carrying1711
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 19 Upon the nature of this vice, Of custume and of exercise..A tale..I shall rehercen.
1432 Paston Lett. No. 18 I. 32 He may putte hem from excercise and occupacion of the Kinges service.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 125 Abbeys & monasterys for the exercyse of a monastycal lyfe.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Exercise of marchandise, negotiatio.
1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie iv. xiv. 208 Suspence of iudgement and exercice of charitie were safer.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxx. 181 To defend private men in the exercise of severall Trades.
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) i. i. 6 The Rules and Exercise of Architecture.
1773 Observ. State Poor 42 The exercise of cruelty is too frequently a concomitant of the acquisition of power.
1850 A. Jameson Legends Monastic Orders 347 After some years spent in the exercise of every virtue.
1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xvii. 55 A..larger exercise both of concert and secrecy.
4. The practice and performance of rites and ceremonies, worship, etc.; the right or permission to celebrate the observances (of a religion). †Formerly also elliptical = ‘exercise of worship’. Cf. 10.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > [noun] > performance of
with or in (great, etc.) solemnityc1290
solemnity1390
solemnization1447
observancea1450
solennizationc1450
solemnation1470
celebration1483
superstition1513
ministration1535
celebrating1547
solemnizing1565
ministering1566
solemnize1590
solemniation1631
officiating1640
exercise1656
exercitation1660
officiation1804
altar service1831
ritual1865
1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. ii. ix. 49 The Emperours brother Mathias..granted the Exercise of the Confession of Auxbourgh, throughout all Austria.
1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. ii. xv. 65 He..re-established the Exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion.
1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age ii. i. xx. 215 The King hath lost seven Provinces, and the said Church, her exercise.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 508 [Lewis] refus'd even those of the Church of England..the publick Exercise of their Religion.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. 92 The exercise of public worship appears to be the only solid foundation of the religious sentiments of the people.
a. The action or process of training or drilling scholars, troops, etc.; an instance of this. Const. of. camp of exercise: a camp established for the purpose of training troops. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > training > [noun] > drilling
exercisea1533
drill1875
drilling1880
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. H Now wil we speake of his laudable exercises of them that came to hym.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 107 A commyn place appoyntyd to the exercyse of uthe.
1680 Eng. Mil. Discipl. (new ed.) i. 28 The Exercise of the Horse consisting in fewer Words of Command than that of the Foot is more generally known.
1819 A. Rees Cycl. VI. at Camp A Camp of peace and exercise.
b. The action of working the ground (after Latin).
ΚΠ
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 53 He with frequent Exercise Commands Th' unwilling Soil [tr. exercet tellurem] . View more context for this quotation
6. † b. Acquired skill. Obsolete.
a. Practice for the sake of training or improvement, either bodily, mental, or spiritual.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > [noun] > practice or exercise
exercise1509
practice1553
training exercise1801
c1340 R. Rolle Prose Treat. 14 A saule þat haues..by gastely excercyse ouercomene and dystroyede concupyscens and passiouns.
1483 W. Caxton tr. Caton B iij For by the same playe one may doo his excersise.
1509 J. Fisher Mornynge Remembraunce Countesse of Rychemonde (de Worde) sig. A.iij For her exercyse..she dyde translate dyuers maters of deuocyon out of Frensshe in to Englysshe.
1557 R. Record Whetstone of Witte sig. Fiiv Exercise is the beste instrument in learnyng.
c1570 Short Sum 1st Bk. Discipl. Ch. Scot. §5 Reiders fvnd unabill, efter tua ȝeiris exerceis, for the ministrie.
1664 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders (new ed.) i. sig. f5 In the drawing of a line..he meant a continual exercise to perfection.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. viii. 201 Skill'd in heroic exercise, I claim A post of honour.
1853 J. H. Stocqueler Mil. Encycl. 100/2 Exercise, the practice of all those motions and actions, together with the whole management of arms, which are essential to the perfection of a soldier, and the rendering him fit for service.
1854 J. H. Stocqueler Hand-bk. Brit. India (ed. 3) 12 An army of exercise was assembled on the Gwalior frontier.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > acquired skill
exercise1604
learning1604
accomplishment1652
acquirement1795
feel1891
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iv. vii. 82 He..gaue you such a masterly report For art and exercise in your defence. View more context for this quotation
c. Disciplinary suffering, ‘trial’; an instance of this. Also, a state of distress or anxiety, a painful mental struggle. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > [noun]
sorec888
teeneOE
sorrowOE
workOE
wrakeOE
careOE
gramec1000
harmOE
howc1000
trayOE
woweOE
angec1175
derfnessc1175
sytec1175
unwinc1175
wosithc1200
ail?c1225
barrat?c1225
derf?c1225
grief?c1225
misease?c1225
misliking?c1225
ofthinkingc1225
passion?c1225
troublec1230
pinec1275
distress1297
grievancea1300
penancea1300
cumbermentc1300
languorc1300
cumbering1303
were1303
angera1325
strifea1325
sweama1325
woea1325
painc1330
tribulationc1330
illa1340
threst1340
constraintc1374
troublenessc1380
afflictiona1382
bruisinga1382
miseasetya1382
pressurec1384
exercisec1386
miscomfortc1390
mislikea1400
smarta1400
thronga1400
balec1400
painfulnessc1400
troublancec1400
smartness?c1425
painliness1435
perplexity?a1439
penalty?1462
calamity1490
penality1496
cumber?a1513
sussy1513
tribule1513
afflict?1529
vexation of spirit1535
troublesomeness1561
hoe1567
grievedness1571
tribulance1575
languishment1576
thrall1578
tine1590
languorment1593
aggrievedness1594
obturbation1623
afflictedness1646
erumny1657
pathos1684
shock1705
dree1791
vex1815
wrungnessa1875
dukkha1886
thinkache1892
sufferation1976
society > authority > punishment > [noun] > pain or suffering inflicted as
pineOE
painc1300
exercisec1386
reproof?a1425
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > anxiety > [noun]
mourningeOE
businessOE
busyOE
carefulnessa1000
carec1000
howc1000
embeþonkc1200
thought?c1250
cark1330
curea1340
exercisec1386
solicitude?a1412
pensienessc1450
anxietya1475
fear1490
thought-taking1508
pensement1516
carp1548
caring1556
hoe1567
thoughtfulness1569
carking1583
caretaking1625
anxiousness1636
solicitousness1636
concern1692
solicitation1693
anxietude1709
twitchiness1834
uptightness1969
c1386 G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale 1100 For our exercise, With sharpe scourges of adversitee..to be bete.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Aiv Gostly exercise, or mortifycacion of the senses.
1653 D. Dickson Brief Explic. First 50 Psalms lxxxviii. Introd. 295 The heaviest exercise we can imagine possible for a Saint.
1657 O. Cromwell Speech 20 Apr. (Carlyle) The exercise that hath been upon me these three or four days.
a1713 T. Ellwood Hist. Life (1714) 31 For I presently saw, it would bring a very great exercise upon me.
1861 H. B. Stowe Pearl of Orr's Island 26 These 'ere forty years that I've been round..tendin' funerals I've watched people's exercises.
7. Exertion of the muscles, limbs, and bodily powers, regarded with reference to its effect on the subject; esp. such exertion undertaken with a view to the maintenance or improvement of health. Often with distinguishing words, as carriage-exercise, horse-exercise, open air exercise, walking, etc., exercise.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [noun] > for health
exercitation1382
exercisec1386
exercition1525
apotherapy1653
c1386 G. Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale 19 Attempre dyete was al hir phisik, And exercise and hertes suffisaunce.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xvi. sig. Hvi By exercise..the helthe of man is preserued.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §299 Use not Exercise and a Spare Diet..if much Exercise, then a Plentifull Diet.
1700 J. Dryden To my Kinsman J. Driden in Fables 97 The Wise, for Cure, on Exercise depend.
1732 J. Arbuthnot Pract. Rules of Diet i. 261 Violent Exercise or Labour produceth this Effect.
1779 S. Johnson Let. 23 June (1992) III. 175 Exercise is labour used only while it produces pleasure.
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. ii. 31 To work in your garden, for the sake of exercise.
1865 Handy Horse Bk. 32 Two hours' daily exercise at a fast walk will be enough to keep a hack fit for his work.
8. A task prescribed or performed for the sake of attaining proficiency, for training either body or mind, or as an exhibition or test of proficiency or skill.† f. concrete. The object of exercises; ‘the sport’.
a. gen.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > [noun] > an undertaking > thing(s) to be done > a (difficult) task > prescribed for attaining skill
exercise1576
1576 A. Fleming tr. Erasmus in Panoplie Epist. 356 As well in bodilie exercises as in the also that beelong unto the minde.
1655 I. Walton Compl. Angler (ed. 2) 23 What more manly exercise then hunting the Wild-Boare?
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. iv. §5 The exercises of those who were educated in these Schools of the Prophets, were instructions in the Law.
1817 T. Chalmers Series Disc. Christian Revelation i. 21 It is truly a most Christian exercise, to extract a sentiment of piety from the works and the appearances of nature.
1860 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters V. 238 Of these the mason's exercises are in the worst possible taste.
1894 N.E.D. at Exercise Mod. The use of the sloping ladder is an improving exercise.
b. In plural. Military drill, athletics, field sports, dancing, etc. Also in singular as a collective term, or in sense of ‘a drill or parade’. Often with distinguishing words, as bayonet-exercise, cutlass-exercise, small arm-exercise, sword-, etc., exercise; also manual exercise (see manual adj. and n.).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [noun]
playeOE
stirringa1400
laboura1530
exercisea1533
activity1542
motion1568
gymnastic1598
gymnastics1652
capriccio1665
grind1857
physical drill1873
ekker1891
physical jerks1917
daily dozen1918
workout1923
sexercise1942
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. B.viijv The father of Marke Aurelee themperour, had bene pretour in exercyses [mistranslating de los exercitos].
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. i. 68 Allow me such exercises as may become a gentleman. View more context for this quotation
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 9 [George Villiers] spent two or three years in..learning the exercises of Riding and Dancing.
1704 London Gaz. No. 3104 Let them [able Bodied Men] repair to Captain Silver..at his House..or at the Exercise on Black-Heath.
a1719 J. Addison in Wks. (c1888) I. 374 The French apply themselves more universally to their exercises than any nation.
1729 A. Pope Dunciad (new ed.) ii. (Argt.) Afterwards the exercises for the Poets, of Tickling, Vociferating, Diving.
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. xviii. 483 The exercises of the body prepared them for the fatigues of war.
a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) iii. 144 The several Companies..were forming and learning their Exercise.
1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 258 As steady in the ranks, as if he was at a common exercise.
c. As a University term: An academical declamation or disputation; a vivâ voce examination; a dissertation, musical composition, etc., required from candidates for degrees.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > university examinations > dissertation or disputation
act1549
exercise1563
apposition1660
vesper disputations1715
vespery1886
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 1297/1 After some continuance of exercises in other thynges, he gaue hymselfe to the studye of suche Diuinitye, as the ignoraunce of that age dyd suffer.
a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) i. 10 Now was I called to publick Disputations often,.. never durst I appear in any of those Exercises of Scholarship.
1701 W. Wooton Hist. Rome, Marcus i. 3 He..obliged him to frequent the Lectures and Exercises of the Rhetoricians.
1705 Addr. Univ. Oxf. in London Gaz. No. 4086/1 The Exercise performed in our Theater on New-year's-Day.
1726 N. Amhurst Terræ-filius (1754) xlii. 219 They have [at Oxford] long, tedious forms, which they call exercises, through which every candidate for a degree must pass.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits xi. 196 Noblemen are exempted from the public exercises for the degree.
1886 Oxf. Univ. Cal. 56 The exercise [a piece of Vocal Music] is to be performed in public, and a copy of it to be deposited in the Music School.
1886 Oxf. Univ. Cal. 58 Doing the Exercises [Dissertations or exegetical Lectures] for one of the two [degrees] only.
d. A composition or translation written by pupils at school; a piece of music, a problem, etc., designed to afford practice to learners.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > study > subject or object of study > [noun] > exercises or homework
lesson?c1225
renderc1380
vulgars1520
practicec1541
theme1545
example1562
tax1564
repetition1579
exercise1612
praxis1612
recreation1633
pensum1667
vacation-exercisea1668
version1711
task1737
thesisa1774
dictation1789
challenging1825
holiday task1827
devoir1849
homework1852
vulgus1857
cram-book1858
rep1858
banco1862
prep1866
classwork1867
preparation1875
work card1878
vacation-task1904
1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. iv. 32 Now those that write exercises, may take the opportunitie of that time, to write them so faire as they can.
1712 E. Budgell Spectator No. 337. ¶8 A theme or copy of verses are the usual exercices.
1720 J. Clarke Ess. Educ. Youth 37 The Scribling of twenty or thirty Lines of Latin Exercise every Night.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 141. ⁋4 I..was furnished with exercises and instructed in my lessons by some kind patron.
1841 J. T. J. Hewlett Parish Clerk II. 235 To prepare their exercises and lessons for the following day.
1853 E. S. Sheppard Charles Auchester I. xvii. 168 She began to sing her florid exercises.
e. A written composition; an essay, sermon, treatise.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > a written composition > [noun] > as an exercise
composition1603
exercise1678
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. v. 92 In my former Exercises I did not teach you how to chuse the Tools a Smith was to use.
1693 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. viii. 3 Having abundantly proved in our Last Exercise, That [etc.].
a1716 R. South Serm. Several Occasions (1744) XI. 103 Would the time and measure of this exercise permit.
1880 T. Fowler Locke i. 8 These compositions do not rise much above, or sink much below, the ordinary level of such exercises.
ΚΠ
1629 J. Ford Lovers Melancholy i. 4 To be man (my Lord) Is to be but the exercise of cares In seuerall shapes.
g. In plural. Formal acts or ceremonies on some special occasion. U.S.
ΚΠ
1841 J. S. Buckingham Amer. II. 47 The First Reformed Dutch Church, where the ‘exercises’, as all proceedings of public meetings are here called, were to take place.
1863 ‘E. Kirke’ My Southern Friends xxvi. 262 A few minutes before the ‘exercises’ [sc. an auction sale] commenced, the negroes were marched upon the lawn.
1891 in M. A. Jackson Memoirs (1895) 640 The exercises [sc. unveiling of a monument] were held upon the campus of Washington and Lee University.
1911 Springfield (Mass.) Weekly Republican 16 Nov. 9 The chief feature of the inauguration exercises [of the Lord Mayor of London] was a pageant and tableaux.
1926 Publishers' Weekly 1 May 1474 Dedicatory exercises.
h. the object of the exercise: the (whole) point or purpose of (something stated in the context).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > intention > [noun] > intention or purpose > end, purpose, or object
willeOE
errand?c1225
purposec1300
endc1305
emprisec1330
intentc1340
use1340
conclusionc1374
studya1382
pointc1385
causec1386
gamea1393
term?c1400
businessc1405
finec1405
intentionc1410
object?a1425
obtent?a1475
drift1526
intend1526
respect1528
flight1530
finality?1541
stop1551
scope1559
butt?1571
bent1579
aiming point1587
pursuitc1592
aim1595
devotion1597
meaning1605
maina1610
attempt1610
design1615
purport1616
terminusa1617
intendment1635
pretence1649
ettle1790
big (also great) idea1846
objective1878
objective1882
the name of the game1910
the object of the exercise1958
thrust1968
1958 Spectator 24 Jan. 103/1 Its report is a living document which..will gradually influence public opinion. That was the object of the exercise.
1959 Times 20 June 4/4 The main object of the exercise is to merge Theatre Tickets and Messengers' turnover with ours.
1970 J. Sangster Touchfeather, Too i. 2 If we knew what it looked like..we would simply bribe a member of the crew..to take it from his cabin. But that is not the object of the exercise.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > [noun]
playeOE
gameeOE
disportc1380
sportc1443
museryc1450
pastime?1473
gaud1587
playgame1596
exercise1622
amusement1632
evagation1638
retirement1641
divertisement1642
diversiona1684
ploya1689
lounge1788
divertissement1804
happening1959
letterboxing1977
timepass1982
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 17 Thinking..to performe all things now, rather as an Exercise then as a Labour.
10. A religious observance. Cf. 4.
a. gen. (singular and plural) Also religious exercise(s, exercises of devotion, exercises of religion, or exercises of worship.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > [noun] > instance or form of
churchOE
servicelOE
rightlOE
observancea1250
officec1300
preachingc1350
ritec1350
ceremonyc1380
usea1382
prayerc1384
form1399
ordinancea1400
ordera1425
worship?a1425
worshippingc1443
common prayer1493
common servicea1500
ordinarya1513
celebrity1534
church servicea1555
religious exercise1560
function1564
agend1581
church office1581
liturgy1593
Common Prayer service1648
ritualities1648
ceremonial1672
hierurgy1678
occasion1761
religiosities1834
cursus1865
joss-pidgin1886
worship service1929
1560 J. Knox et al. Buke Discipline in J. Knox Wks. (1848) II. 242 That Exercise, which Sanct Paull calleth prophecieing.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iv. 41 Fasting and praying, Much castigation, exercise deuout. View more context for this quotation
a1629 W. Hinde Faithfull Remonstr. (1641) xxvii. 85 Constancy in maintaining all good exercises of Religion.
1645 Directory Publique Worship Ordinance In all Exercises of the Publique Worship.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 50 He had assisted in lady Griskin's, and several private houses, at exercises of devotion.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 606 His followers..passed a great part of the day in religious exercises.
1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) II. viii. 168 Punctual in every exercise of devotion.
1869 J. Phillips Vesuvius iii. 49 Producing great terror and much religious exercise.
1880 T. Fowler Locke i. 5 Locke..must have occasionally found these tedious, and doubtless lengthy, exercises [religious services at college] somewhat irksome.
b. An act of public worship.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > kinds of rite > public > [noun]
exercise1574
1574 J. Whitgift Def. Aunswere to Admon. ii. 87 The exercises of Praying, singing of Psalmes, interpreting, and Prophecying.
1628 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. xlv. sig. H6v She..thinkes the Weeke-dayes Exercise farre more edifying then the Sundayes.
1636 W. Davenant Witts i. sig. B3 And squire thy untooth'd Aunt to an exercise.
1674 Certain Considerations Peace & Good Will 22 The main upholder of two famous Exercises.
1888 E. Eggleston Graysons x. 114 The ‘exercises’ lasted a full hour longer, and it was half-past ten before the presiding elder gave the benediction.
c. An act of preaching or prophesying; a discourse.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > preaching > [noun] > instance of
lorespellc1000
sermona1200
predicationa1325
preachingc1350
collation1417
preachmentc1460
postils1483
preacha1550
exercise1597
sermocination1645
pronea1670
stick1759
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. ii. 106 I am beholding to you for your last daies exercise.
1604 tr. Constit. & Canons Ecclesiasticall 1603 lxxii Sermons, commonly tearmed by some Prophesies or Exercises, in market-towns, or other places.
1650 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 272 Having a mind to see what was doing among the Rebels..I went..and found one at exercise in the chapel.
1799 C. Winter in W. Jay Mem. 30 When he closed his exercise, the people..seemed to say, etc.
1868 J. G. Miall Congregationalism in Yorks. 22 Prophesyings, or, as they were now [in 1603] called, ‘Exercises’.
d. An act of private worship.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > kinds of rite > private > [noun]
exercise1592
1592 R. Greene Thirde Pt. Conny-catching sig. B4v They had said praiers, their euening exercise.
1663 J. Heath Flagellum (1672) 21 The Family was called together to prayers, at which Exercise..they continued long.
1822 J. Galt Steam-boat 299 I went down stairs again to the parlour to make exercise.
1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well III. ii. 26 That honest person was, according to his own account..engaged in the exercise of the evening.
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 34 On a Saturday evening..after the ‘exercises’ have been finished..they fall into serious conversation.
e. Scottish. The discussion of a passage of Scripture; a meeting of the Presbytery for holding such a discussion. Exercise and Addition: see quot. 1709.
ΚΠ
1572 Lament Lady Scot. in J. G. Dalyell Scotish Poems 16th Cent. (1801) II. 246 The word of God is..in the schuills exercise trewlie teichit.
1598 Sc. Acts. Jas. VI (1814) 189 Exemit..fra all teiching in kirkis and congregationis, except in exerceissis and censuring of doctrine in exerceissis.
1709 W. Steuart Coll. & Observ. Church Scotl. 30 The Presbyterial Exercise and Addition; The Exercise gives the Coherence of the Text and Context, the Logical Division, etc. The Addition gives the Doctrinal Propositions or Truths.
1884 C. Rogers Social Life Scotl. II. xi. 89 In 1638 the Presbytery of St. Andrews at their weekly meetings were proceeding through St. John's Gospel with an exercise and addition on every verse.
f. Hence the Presbytery itself.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > Christianity > Protestantism > Presbyterianism > [noun] > person > collective
exercise1578
1578 Act Presb. Edinb. in Wodr. Soc. Misc. (1844) 407 The Brethren of the Exercyiss of Edinburgh beand convenit.
1612 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) 499/1 The Ministers of the exercise of Dalkeith fand the best meane for reparing of the Kirk..to be, etc.
1884 C. Rogers Social Life Scotl. II. xi. 89 Members of each presbytery, then styled ‘the Exerceis’.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. (In sense 7.)
exercise-ground n.
ΚΠ
1788 W. Dyott Diary Sept. (1907) I. 54 His Royal Highness went on shore to see a most extensive display of fireworks on the exercise ground.
1906 J. Joyce Let. 4 Oct. (1966) II. 171 The interspaces being used as military exercise-grounds.
1930 E. Blunden Leigh Hunt viii. 103 It became an exercise-ground in which, edition by edition, its author tried fresh evolutions.
exercise-time n.
ΚΠ
1897 ‘P. Warung’ Tales Old Regime 209 To be deprived of their exercise-time added fresh pangs to the punishment of the virtuous.
exercise-yard n.
ΚΠ
1901 Wide World Mag. 8 170/1 He was to put up a solid palisade round the outer edge of my exercise-yard.
1966 Listener 18 Aug. 237/1 There was no bath..and there was no big exercise yard as there had been in Pretoria.
b.
exercise-loving adj.
ΚΠ
1897 Daily News 30 Aug. 5/7 Exercise-loving England.
C2.
exercise bone n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1890 J. S. Billings National Med. Dict. I Exercise bone, bony deposit produced in or over a tendon by continued and repeated use or pressure.
exercise book n. a blank book of the kind used in schools for the writing of exercises; also, a book containing set exercises.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writing materials > material to write on > paper > [noun] > pad of paper > exercise book
writing book1599
exercise book1813
cahier1849
1813 M. Edgeworth Let. 1 May (1971) 33 Saw Edward 6th's famous little manuscript exercise book.
1838 E. C. Gaskell Let. 17 July (1966) 17 We are ‘here today, & gone tomorrow’, as the fat scullion maid said in some extract in Holland's Exercise book.
1873 Young Englishwoman Apr. 207/3 Can the Editor mention a good musical exercise book? I believe the German books are the best.
1932 L. Golding Magnolia St. ii. xiv. 461 The little shiny blue-backed exercise-book he used as a diary.
Draft additions June 2007
exercise ball n. (a) any of various types of ball used as part of an exercise routine; (now) spec. = stability ball n. at stability n. Additions; (b) = hamster ball n. at hamster n. Compounds.
ΚΠ
1907 Washington Post 8 Sept. A heavy exercise ball was passed between each pair for twenty minutes.
1974 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald Amer. 4 Aug. (Hobbies section) 19/5 (advt.) Hamster & gerbil exercise ball. ‘Take your pet for a walk.’
1978 Bucks County (Pa.) Courier Times 7 June (Woolco Super Summer Savers Suppl.) (advt.) Dyna Bee gyro exercise ball.
1988 Orange County (Calif.) Reg. (Nexis) 16 May c5 Marshall..has come to love the huge exercise ball he uses to strengthen his back.
2000 Shape Oct. 139 (caption) One-legged Ball Squat. Put an exercise ball against a wall, then stand with your lower back firmly and comfortably against it, knees bent.
Draft additions August 2007
exercise bicycle n. a stationary piece of exercise equipment resembling a bicycle, typically requiring the user to pedal against resistance.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [noun] > equipment > others
trochus1706
troque1743
chamber horse1747
dumb-bell1785
stock1831
rowing machine1848
chest-expander1850
weights1862
stationary bicycle1883
punching bag1888
medicine ball1895
punching ball1895
stationary bike1899
kettlebell1908
rower1933
Exercycle1936
exercise bicycle1937
exercise bike1946
exercise cycle1952
roller1970
life cycle1973
multi-gym1976
gut-buster1983
roller1992
1937 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 14 Mar. For indolent beauty chasers—an exercise bicycle that does all the work while it makes you slender and supple.
1943 Dunkirk (N.Y.) Evening Observer 5 Feb. 16/3 A white-walled room containing a portable steam bath, an exercise bicycle and a barber's chair.
2004 P. Klass Mystery of Breathing 202 She sat now on the exercise bicycle and churned her legs with grim, bored determination.
Draft additions August 2007
exercise bike n. = exercise bicycle n. at Additions.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [noun] > equipment > others
trochus1706
troque1743
chamber horse1747
dumb-bell1785
stock1831
rowing machine1848
chest-expander1850
weights1862
stationary bicycle1883
punching bag1888
medicine ball1895
punching ball1895
stationary bike1899
kettlebell1908
rower1933
Exercycle1936
exercise bicycle1937
exercise bike1946
exercise cycle1952
roller1970
life cycle1973
multi-gym1976
gut-buster1983
roller1992
1946 N.Y. Times 29 Sept. 90/7 (advt.) Wanted to Buy. Battle Creek belt vibrators, exercise bikes and reducing machines.
2001 Times 2 Jan. ii. 4/4 At the gym, using the treadmill, rower, Stairmaster and exercise bike will provide similar benefits.
Draft additions August 2007
exercise cycle n. = exercise bicycle n. at Additions.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [noun] > equipment > others
trochus1706
troque1743
chamber horse1747
dumb-bell1785
stock1831
rowing machine1848
chest-expander1850
weights1862
stationary bicycle1883
punching bag1888
medicine ball1895
punching ball1895
stationary bike1899
kettlebell1908
rower1933
Exercycle1936
exercise bicycle1937
exercise bike1946
exercise cycle1952
roller1970
life cycle1973
multi-gym1976
gut-buster1983
roller1992
1952 Coshocton (Ohio) Tribune 28 June 2/4 (caption) Labor Secretary Arthur Goldberg takes a turn on the exercise cycle in the Labor Department's physical fitness room.
2006 Hindustan Times (Nexis) 6 Nov. The poor state of gymnasium..exercise cycles.
Draft additions June 2007
exercise wheel n. a treadwheel for small animals, used for the exercise of pets or as part of a scientific experiment; = activity wheel n. at activity n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > [noun] > wheel for measuring activity of small mammals
exercise wheel1902
activity wheel1929
1902 N.Y. Times 27 Apr. 7/1 The exercise wheel in the squirrel's cage is attached by a leather band to the wheel of a machine.
1935 Jrnl. Mammalogy 16 263 The exercise wheel of a pair of mice was placed against the wire side of the cage so that it could not turn.
2000 GTA Today 9 Aug. 6/2 Many small mammals, such as gerbils and hamsters, are nocturnal... If you decide to keep him in your child's bedroom, have lots of oil on hand for that squeaky exercise wheel!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
exercisev.
/ˈɛksəsʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈɛksərˌsaɪz/ 1. transitive. To put in action or motion.† a. To put in operation, employ, use (an instrument, remedy, or any agency); to work (an animal). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or make use of [verb (transitive)]
noteOE
take?a1160
turnc1175
usec1300
to fare witha1340
benote1340
spenda1400
usea1400
weara1400
naitc1400
occupy1423
to put (also set) in work?a1425
practise?c1430
apply1439
employ?1473
to call upon ——1477
help1489
tew1489
handle1509
exercise1526
improvea1529
serve1538
feed1540
enure1549
to make (also take) (a) use of1579
wield1601
adoperate1612
to avail oneself ofa1616
to avail oneself ofa1616
prevail1617
to make practice of1623
ploy1675
occasion1698
to call on ——1721
subserve1811
nuse1851
utilize1860
1526 W. Bonde Rosary sig. Aiiiv Vpon the asse, whiche of no man before had been vsed ne exercised.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. iii. sig. Ee5v Let vs..our weake hands..teach The dreadful speare and shield to exercize.
1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion To Rdr. sig. A Some exercising their pipes, some singing roundelaies.
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions 18 Without the least other Preparation or Mixture exercised upon the Metal it self.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 86 Then exercise thy sturdy Steers to plough Betwixt thy Vines. View more context for this quotation
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. ii. 37 My Nurse gave me part of a Straw, which I exercised as a Pike.
1753 Trial J. Stewart 153 The King's factor should venture to exercise his Majesty's property freely.
1792 Munchhausen's Trav. xx. 66 When they quarrel they exercise a strait horn.
b. To employ, bring to bear, apply (power, skill); to make practical use of (a right or privilege).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > cause to operate [verb (transitive)] > put in effective operation
yieldc1315
underbear1382
to put forthc1390
showa1398
apply?c1400
to put outc1400
exercisec1405
to put toc1410
employ?1473
enforce1490
exerce1535
adhibit?1538
addict1562
endeavour?1575
work1591
address1598
to give stream to?1611
to lay out1651
exsert1665
exert1682
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 578 Ther as he myghte his vertu excercise.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Kings xvi. 27 Amri, & all that he dyd, and his power that he exercysed.
1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. x. 70 That life is led most happily, wherein all virtue is exercised without impediment.
1622 T. Dekker & P. Massinger Virgin Martir i. sig. B4 To..exercise that power Heauen has conferd vpon me.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxviii. 162 That right of Punishing, which is exercised in every Common-wealth.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. xiv. 331 This Faculty of the Mind, when it is exercised immediately about Things, is called Judgment.
1717 E. Fenton Poems 76 Sculpture exercis'd her Skill..to make the Marble breathe.
1836 J. Gilbert Christian Atonem. viii. 310 The Divine Being..exercises the right to forgive without any compensation.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §5. 394 An arbitrary power of imprisonment was still exercised by the Council.
1891 Law Rep.: Weekly Notes 25 Apr. 77/1 The co-heiresses could have exercised the trust for sale.
2. † b. transferred. To employ, occupy (time). Obsolete.† c. To till (the ground); = Latin exercēre terram.
a. To employ habitually, practise (a person); to busy. Const. in. (Now only reflexive and in passive, with some notion of gaining skill by practice: cf. 3).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)]
busyeOE
busyOE
occupya1325
exercisec1384
employ1477
embusy1485
to hold (also keep) in play1548
exerce1584
engage1648
to tie up1887
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. xv. 12 Onye..was exercised, or haunted, in vertues fro a chijld.
c1460 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (1714) 90 Thay [Archers] nedyn to be mich exercysyd in schotyng.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Aiiv Some..be..moch exercised in gostly conuersacion.
1553 R. Eden in tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India Pref. sig. Aiiijv He had been wel exercysed in Astronomy.
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Fj They are exercysed in fyshing.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. H1v Cut off the haire..in such comelie, and decent maner as these barbers exercised therein can doe.
1613 H. Finch Law (1636) 162 A Clarke of the Crowne..which was neuer exercised in the Office.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. iv. 298 Untainted with any of those vices, which the Officers of that Army were exercised in.
1751 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) I. iv. 78 They exhort us to exercise ourselves in godliness.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. 223 To give battle to an innumerable people, exercised in arms.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho I. i. 8 She usually exercised herself in elegant arts.
1835 W. Wordsworth Death Charles Lamb The hermit, exercised in prayer and praise..Is happy.
1874 J. P. Mahaffy Social Life Greece viii. 241 He and his fellows were all exercised as jurymen in deciding political and social disputes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)]
overdoOE
adreeOE
wreaka1300
to draw forthc1300
dispend1340
pass1340
drivea1375
wastec1381
occupyc1384
overpassa1387
to pass over ——a1393
usec1400
spend1423
contrive?a1475
overdrive1487
consumea1500
to pass forth1509
to drive off1517
lead1523
to ride out1529
to wear out, forth1530
to pass away?1550
to put offc1550
shiftc1562
to tire out1563
wear1567
to drive out1570
entertainc1570
expire1589
tire1589
outwear1590
to see out1590
outrun1592
outgo1595
overshoot1597
to pass out1603
fleeta1616
elapse1654
term1654
trickle1657
to put over1679
absorb1686
spin1696
exercise1711
kill1728
to get through ——1748
to get over ——1751
tickc1870
fill1875
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 94. ¶3 Those Parts of Life which are exercised in Study, Reading, and the Pursuits of Knowledge.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivate or till [verb (transitive)]
begoc890
workOE
tillc1200
exercise1382
dightc1400
labourc1400
manure1416
cultive?1483
tilth1496
culture1510
trim1517
dress1526
subdue1535
toil1552
use1558
farm1570
cultivate1588
tame1601
husbandize1625
culturate1631
to take in1845
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. ix. 20 Noe, a man erthe tylyer, began to excercise [a1425 L.V. tile] the erthe.
1654 R. Codrington tr. Justinus Hist. 507 To exercise and mitigate the fields with ploughs.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 56 Unless the Land with daily Care Is exercis'd . View more context for this quotation
3. † c. To accustom, inure. Obsolete.
a. To train by practice; to employ, put into action or movement, for the sake of acquiring skill or strength; to drill (soldiers, etc.), to put through evolutions for practice or display; to put (the limbs, the body) through a course of movements for the sake of strength or health. Also, to subject to ascetic discipline.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > training > train [verb (transitive)] > drill or rehearse
exercise1388
exercite1475
practise1551
rehearse1768
parrot1775
soldier1780
drill1798
1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 1 Sam. xx. 20 Y schal caste as excercisynge [1382 hauntynge] ether pleiynge me at a signe.
a1533 J. Frith Against Rastel (?1535–6) sig. Cvv God..lefte the Philystynes to exercyse and nurtoure the chyldren of Israell.
1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth viii. sig. E.i Moderatly exercyse your body with some labour.
1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 6th Serm. sig. Tiiii Menne of Englande..when they woulde exercyse theym selues..were wonte to goo a brode in the fyeldes a shootynge.
1557 Bible (Whittingham) Heb. v. 14 Them..which through custome haue their wittes exercised, to iudge both good and euyl.
1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 84 Here [in tennis] the Body is briskly exercised more than ordinary.
a1695 A. Wood Life (1848) 266 A company of scholars..exercised themselves in feats of arms privately in All Souls coll. quadrangle.
1743 R. Pococke Descr. East I. 57 The Arabs who came out to meet the cashif exercised themselves all the way on horseback.
1825 T. Carlyle Life Schiller (1845) ii. 116 The objects..to which I had been exercising all my powers.
1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella II. ii. v. 377 [Ximenes] exercised himself with fasts, vigils, and stripes.
1842 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. ix. 142 He exercised the horses at Newmarket.
b. transferred. To practise soldiers in the use of (weapons); to put (a gun) through its evolutions.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > drill or training > drill [verb (transitive)] > exercise weapons
exercise1713
experience1727
1713 J. Addison Cato ii. vi I'll draw up my Numidian troops..to exercise their arms.
1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy II. ii. 52 Exercising the great guns on board ship.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > do habitually [verb (transitive)] > accustom (a person)
weanc960
wonc1175
to teach to1297
usec1300
usec1405
accustom1422
wontc1440
custom?c1450
enure1489
inure1489
induce1490
habituate1530
ure1530
usage1530
trade1539
to trade up1556
exercise1558
flesh1591
habit?1615
habitate1621
occasion1684
usen1715
usen1861
ethize1876
1558 in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1709) I. ii. App. iv. 6 To exercise the queen's majesty's subjects to obedience.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 140 In the meane time exercise them to meate.
4.
a. To give employment to; to engage the attention or feelings of; to tax the powers of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > engage the attention [verb (transitive)]
exercisea1538
entertainc1540
replenish1548
rouse1583
catcha1586
amuse1586
detainc1595
attract1599
grope1602
concerna1616
take1634
stay1639
engage1642
meet1645
nudge1675
strike1697
hitcha1764
seize1772
interest1780
acuminate1806
arrest1835
grip1891
intrigue1894
grab1966
work1969
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 117 Such poverty exercysyth wel the pytuouse myndys of them wych have enough.
1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. iii. vii. §7. 86 The continuall Warres which exercised King Darius.
a1780 J. Harris Philol. Inq. (1781) i. iv. 24 The authors of our own country..having exercised many critics of learning.
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. iv. v. 170 The situation was calculated to exercise Hindu duplicity and address.
1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator (new ed.) IV. 66/1 Various breeds had great celebrity—a celebrity which exercised the pens of their most famous writers.
b. esp. To harass, vex, worry; to afflict, make anxious, ‘prove’.Originally in religious use with some notion of disciplinary exercise (see 3); the wider use was probably at first transferred from this. Cf. exercise n. 6c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)] > afflict
overharryeOE
aileOE
swencheOE
besetOE
traya1000
teenOE
to work (also do) (a person) woeOE
derve?c1225
grieve1297
harrya1300
noyc1300
travailc1300
to work (also do) annoyc1300
wrath14..
aggrievea1325
annoya1325
tribula1325
to hold wakenc1330
anguish1340
distrainc1374
wrap1380
strain1382
ermec1386
afflicta1393
cumbera1400
assayc1400
distressc1400
temptc1400
encumber1413
labour1437
infortune?a1439
stressa1450
trouble1489
arraya1500
constraina1500
attempt1525
misease1530
exercise1531
to hold or keep waking1533
try1539
to wring to the worse1542
pinch1548
affligec1550
trounce1551
oppress1555
inflict1566
overharl1570
strait1579
to make a martyr of1599
straiten1611
tribulatea1637
to put through the hoop(s)1919
snooter1923
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > harass [verb (transitive)]
tawc893
ermec897
swencheOE
besetOE
bestandc1000
teenOE
baitc1175
grieve?c1225
war?c1225
noyc1300
pursuec1300
travailc1300
to work (also do) annoyc1300
tribula1325
worka1325
to hold wakenc1330
chase1340
twistc1374
wrap1380
cumbera1400
harrya1400
vexc1410
encumber1413
inquiet1413
molest?a1425
course1466
persecutec1475
trouble1489
sturt1513
hare1523
hag1525
hale1530
exercise1531
to grate on or upon1532
to hold or keep waking1533
infest1533
scourge1540
molestate1543
pinch1548
trounce1551
to shake upa1556
tire1558
moila1560
pester1566
importune1578
hunt1583
moider1587
bebait1589
commacerate1596
bepester1600
ferret1600
harsell1603
hurry1611
gall1614
betoil1622
weary1633
tribulatea1637
harass1656
dun1659
overharry1665
worry1671
haul1678
to plague the life out of1746
badger1782
hatchel1800
worry1811
bedevil1823
devil1823
victimize1830
frab1848
mither1848
to pester the life out of1848
haik1855
beplague1870
chevy1872
obsede1876
to get on ——1880
to load up with1880
tail-twist1898
hassle1901
heckle1920
snooter1923
hassle1945
to breathe down (the back of) (someone's) neck1946
to bust (a person's) chops1953
noodge1960
monster1967
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > worry about [verb (transitive)] > cause worry to
busyeOE
fretc1290
exercise1531
to lead, rarely give (a person) a dancea1545
pingle1740
potter1763
fidget1785
worrit1818
worry1822
bite1909
disquieten1921
to stress out1983
1531 H. Latimer Let. Dec. in J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (1563) 1321/1 Exercised with my disease in my head and syde.
1596 Bp. W. Barlow tr. L. Lavater Three Christian Serm. ii. 87 There is also another cause why God thus exerciseth his children.
c1665 L. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1973) 86 Injurious prosecutions wherewith the Governor was after much exercis'd.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 45 God..thought fit to exercise him with calumny.
1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. 24 At times his mind was much exercised.
1758 S. Hayward Seventeen Serm. xvii. 520 The melancholy disorder he [Job] was exercised with.
1825 M. M. Sherwood Lady of Manor (ed. 2) I. iii. 67 The afflictive dispensation with which it had pleased the Almighty to exercise her.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. v. 84 Tom..[was] much exercised in his mind as to what manner of man he had fallen upon.
1878 R. Simpson School of Shakspere I. 113 The minds of people at Rome were exercised concerning the division of the expected spoil.
1888 Notes & Queries 7th Ser. 5 418 My own housemaid was very much exercised..by an inexplicable tinkling..of her door-bell.
5. To carry on, carry out, perform.† a. To perform (esp. habitually), practise, take part in (an action, feat, game, etc.); to play (a part). to exercise the great horse (see horse n.).† b. To carry on, ply, pursue (an occupation, trade, etc.); to discharge the functions of (an official post); to practise oneself in (an art, language, etc.). Obsolete.† c. To celebrate, perform (a ceremony, religious service, etc.); to perform the observances of (a religion). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > practice, exercise, or doing > practise or carry on [verb (transitive)] > specifically a game, feat, etc.
usec1330
exercisec1430
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [verb (transitive)] > exercise a horse
walk1485
to exercise the great horse1644
c1430 tr. Thomas à Kempis Imitation of Christ 37 Breþern..þat exercisen not þo þinges as þei are called to!
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xxvii. sig. Mviii He neuer exercised any other play or game.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 28 Frely..hyt exercysyth vertues actys.
?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens sig. Aiijv What dyuers operacions exerciseth the Cyrurgyen?
1547 Certain Serm. or Homilies Short Declar. Faith i, in J. Griffiths Two Bks. Homilies (1859) i. 38 The living body of a man ever exerciseth such things as belong to a naturall and living body.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cxcvijv The Poleaxe (the whiche feate he had greatly excercysed).
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum at Tragœdus He that dothe exercise some parte in a tragedie.
1580 J. Stow Annales (1605) 481 Henry Hotespurre..maketh inuasion vpon them..exercising laudable factes.
?1593 H. Chettle Kind-harts Dreame sig. C3v But now I heare my blinde brother that exercisde the base.
1644 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 70 Here I..went to see them ride and exercise the great horse.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 551 About him exercis'd Heroic Games Th' unarmed Youth of Heav'n. View more context for this quotation
1760 C. Johnstone Chrysal I. ii. xiii. 230 The matron..immediately began to exercise her donations to publick charities.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > practice, exercise, or doing > practise or carry on [verb (transitive)]
doeOE
followOE
holda1100
found1340
exercec1374
enhaunta1382
usea1398
proceed1399
apply?c1400
practise?c1430
exercise1467
takea1500
plya1513
enure1549
prosecute1567
inurea1577
manage1579
to stand on ——1599
to carry on1638
cultivate1654
1467 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 407 The craft that he canne or exercisith.
1511–12 Act 3 Hen. VIII c. 23 §9 They..may occupie and excercise their roomes and offices of foreyn Auditours.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. vii. f. 35v They had graneges and exercised tyllage.
1598 R. Hakluyt tr. Vincent of Beauvais in Princ. Navigations (new ed.) I. 61 It..is a kinde of porte towne, hauing a great marte exercised therein.
1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 6 Many good townes and rich places where cloathing is exercised.
1603 King James VI & I in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. i. 239 III. 66 We have thought good to appoint..the lord Thomas Howard de Walden to exercise that place.
1611 T. Coryate Crudities sig. Hh5v Which hunting of wilde boares is more exercised by the Germans then by any other Christian nation.
1651 J. Saint-Amard tr. F. Micanzio Life Father Paul sig. B In Venice he exercised Merchandise, though with no great prosperitie.
1683 J. Dryden Life Plutarch 17 in J. Dryden et al. tr. Plutarch Lives I He had neither the leisure to study, nor so much as to exercise the Roman language.
1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. I. 249 The inhabitants exercised pasture in the open country.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > perform rite(s) [verb (transitive)]
workOE
servec1175
usea1250
solemnize1382
exercisea1400
observec1425
solennizec1440
officyc1443
officec1449
execute1450
solemn1483
celebratec1487
solemnizate1538
frequenta1555
to put upa1628
officiate1631
ceremony1635
liturgy1716
a1400 Cov. Myst. 71 This we clepe festum Encenniorum, The new ffest of whiche iij in the ȝere we exercyse.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 78/3 With the drede of God they excersised the feste of theyr weddynges.
1486 in F. J. Furnivall Gild of St. Mary, Lichfield (1920) 18 Owr ordinary visitacion had and exercysed in the chapell of owr lady beside the market place of Lichfeld.
a1613 E. Brerewood Enq. Langs. & Relig. (1614) xxvi. 197 The Georgorians..exercise notwithstanding their liturgies in the Greeke tongue.
1670 S. Wilson Lassels's Voy. Italy (new ed.) ii. 154 In this place was exercised the first publick profession of Christian Religion.
a1732 F. Atterbury Serm. Several Occas. (1734) I. 127 They..were permitted by them freely and publickly to exercise their Religion.
1807 J. Johnson Oriental Voy. 357 They have a regular form of government, and exercise the Mahometan religion.
d. To perform or practise acts of (justice, cruelty, oppression, duplicity, etc.). Cf. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > practice, exercise, or doing > practise or carry on [verb (transitive)] > exercise or put into practice (principle or quality)
kithec1330
usec1330
apply1395
execute14..
in urec1420
exercisea1513
to put into (also in) practice1553
reduce1581
to make practice of1623
exsert1665
exert1682
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. xxxii. f. xiiiv Gurguncius..excercisyd Iustyce to his subiectes.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxxiij Thei exercised their crueltie, against their awne selfes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. v. 176 No longer exercise, Vpon a valiant Race, thy harsh..iniuries. View more context for this quotation
1703 W. Burkitt Expos. Notes New Test. Matt. vii. 5 To exercise Severity in Judging of our selves.
1791 E. Burke Corr. (1844) III. 356 So much perfidy, pride, cruelty, and tyranny, never was exercised in a like case.
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. viii. 679 The greatest oppression was evidently exercised upon the unhappy cultivators.
e. To discharge, fulfil (functions); to exert, wield, possess (dominion, jurisdiction, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > practice, exercise, or doing > practise or carry on [verb (transitive)] > exercise dominion, jurisdiction, etc.
wieldeOE
exercise1590
1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. I5 I exercise a greater name, The Scourge of God.
1658 R. Allestree Pract. Christian Graces; or, Whole Duty of Man xiv. §8. 283 Those..who dare presume to exercise the Offices of it, without being lawfully called to it.
1690 J. Locke Two Treat. Govt. I. §10 That dominion which their governours had a right to exercise over them.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. iii. 44 Government of the..same Kind with That, which a Master exercises over his Servants.
1790 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) II. 117 It engrosses all functions though incapable of exercising any.
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I I. vi. 150 The late exiles..attempted to exercise their ministry.
1880 L. Stephen Alexander Pope v. 111 Swift did not exercise either so gentle or so imperial a sway as Addison.
f. Of things: To ‘exert’, possess efficiently (force, influence, effect).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > exert effect or influence
workeOE
exercise1862
1862 H. Spencer First Princ. ii. vi. §68. 243 The force which a given quantity of matter exercises, remains always the same.
1867 S. Smiles Huguenots Eng. & Ireland ix. 208 The flight of the French Protestants exercised a highly important influence on European politics.
6. absol. or intransitive for reflexive in various senses.† a. To ply one's calling, to ‘practise’. Obsolete.† b. To perform one's office, practise, upon. Also, To treat upon a subject. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > working > [verb (intransitive)]
workOE
occupy1417
practise?1435
exercise1511
lie1546
artize1598
graft1859
1511–12 Act 3 Hen. VIII c. 11 That noo person..take upon hym to excercise and occupie as a Phisicion.
1565 Act 8 Eliz. c. 13 §5 Sea-faring Men..may freely and quietly exercise and row in their own Wherries.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > practice, exercise, or doing > practise or exercise [verb (intransitive)]
exercisea1616
society > occupation and work > working > [verb (transitive)] > be occupied with
work onOE
servec1330
lie1546
exercisea1616
travel1682
society > leisure > the arts > literature > art or occupation of writer or author > be the author of or write (a work) [verb (transitive)] > express in written work or write about
writeOE
inditea1340
pena1527
pursue1558
to lay down1583
discur1586
paper1594
style1605
word1613
exercisea1616
bescribble1643
describble1794
bewrite1875
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 330 Vrchins Shall for that vast of night, that they may worke All exercise on thee. View more context for this quotation
1616 J. Lane Contin. Squire's Tale 120 Wheare such surgeons on flesh exercise.
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. Pref. sig. A4v And lastly, as a close to Smithing I shall exercise upon Steel, and its several sorts.
c. To go through exercises or evolutions; esp. of soldiers, ‘to drill’.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > drill or training > drill [verb (intransitive)]
exercisea1616
drill1848
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iii. vi. 12 I'th' common shew place, where they exercise . View more context for this quotation
1678 tr. L. de Gaya Art of War ii. 53 Exercise.
1678 tr. L. de Gaya Art of War ii. 57 Whilst the Pikes are exercising, the Musketteers are made to order, or rest upon their Arms.
1697 J. Potter Archæologiæ Græcæ I. i. viii. 40 For..Wrestlers, Dancers, and all others that would, to Exercise at the same Time.
1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 64 In which I bear my trusty sword When I do exercise.
d. To take exercise.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [verb (intransitive)]
exercise1655
to work out1929
1655 T. Moffett & C. Bennet Healths Improvem. xiv. 124 Thirdly exercise not presently upon it [sc. milk].
a1699 W. Temple Ess. Health & Long Life in Wks. (1720) I. 279 In the course of common Life, a Man must either often Exercise, or Fast, or take Physic, or be sick.
1734 J. Rogers Ess. Epidemic Dis. 257 A spare Diet is necessary, when we can't Exercise.
1877 H. James American i. 6 If it was necessary to walk to a remote spot, he walked, but he had never known himself to ‘exercise’.
1897 Daily News 1 Dec. 5/3 The other prisoners exercised as usual yesterday.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > perform rite(s) [verb (intransitive)]
servec1175
adorec1350
ministera1393
administer1468
exercise1561
ceremonize1633
liturgize1830
ceremonialize1948
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. Contents Leaving the inferiour manner of exercising which hee used among the Israelites.
1635 J. Winthrop Hist. New Eng. (1853) I. 214 Mr. Shepherd prayed with deep confession of sin, etc., and exercised out of Eph. v.
1649 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 38 Lieutenant-Gen. Cromwell..exercised yesterday at Whitehall, to inquire of the Lord, etc.
1663 P. Henry Diaries & Lett. (1882) 130 In ye morning I exercis'd at home, I hope to edification.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1340v.1382