exercise
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɛk.sə.saɪz/
ipa: /ˈɛk.sɚ.saɪz/
homophone: exorcise (one pronunciation)
rhymes: -aɪs
Forms: form: exercises
form: exercize
form: exercice
Etymology: From Middle English exercise, from Old French exercise, from Latin exercitium.
Senses: examples: text: The teacher told us that the next exercise is to write an essay.
text: Where noyse of armes, or vew of martiall guize / Might not reuiue desire of knightly exercize.
ref: 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 25:
text: an exercise of the eyes and memory
ref: 1693, [John Locke], “§178”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC:
glosses: Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
examples: text: Swimming is good exercise.
text: I like to do my exercises every morning before breakfast.
text: I do crosswords for mental exercise.
text: This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking.[…]He was smooth-faced, and his fresh skin and well-developed figure bespoke the man in good physical condition through active exercise, yet well content with the world's apportionment.
ref: 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
text: Regular mental exercise keeps the circuits of the brain active and healthy and reduces the risk of dementia.
ref: 2018, Timothy R. Jennings, The Aging Brain, →ISBN, page 107:
glosses: Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
examples: text: The law guarantees us the free exercise of our rights.
text: December 8, 1801, Thomas Jefferson, first annual message
exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to the legislature
text: O we will walk this world, / Yoked in all exercise of noble end.
ref: 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “(please specify the page number, or |part=Prologue, I to VII, or conclusion)”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
glosses: A setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use.
examples: text: I assisted the ailing vicar in the exercise of his parish duties.
text: Lewis[…] refused even those of the church of England[…]the public exercise of their religion.
ref: 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
text: He doth entreat your Grace, my noble lord, To visit him tomorrow or next day. To draw him from his holy exercise.
ref: c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vii]:
glosses: The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty.
examples: text: But patience is more oft the exerciſe / Of Saints, the trial of thir fortitude,
ref: 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 77:
glosses: That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
Derived terms: aquacise
boxercise
Brandt-Daroff exercise
compound exercise
cyberexercise
dancercise
deskercise
ekker
exercise ball
exercise bicycle
exercise bike
exercise bone
exercise book
exercise bulimia
exercise cycle
exercise for the reader
exercise in futility
exercise machine
exercise price
exercise regime
exercise track
exercisewear
exercise wheel
exercisible
exercycle
exergame
exergaming
exertainment
five-finger exercise
five finger exercise
floor exercise
free-exercise clause
in-basket exercise
in-tray exercise
jazzercise
low exercise price option
manual exercise
military exercise
nonexercise
postexercise
preexercise
pregnercise
rebound exercise
run for the exercise
sexercise
training exercise
vacuum exercise
watercise