exercise

exercise
\ \ [14] The notion underlying exercise is of ‘removal of restraint’. It comes ultimately from Latin exercēre, a compound verb formed from the prefix ex- ‘out of, from’ and arcērerestrain, enclose’ (source of English arcane and related to English ark). It has been speculated that this originally denoted the driving of draught animals out into the fields to plough, but however that may be, it soon developed the general senses ‘set to work, keep at work’ and ‘drill, practise’ which form the semantic basis of English exercise.
\ \ Cf.ARCANE, ARK

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • exercise — ex·er·cise 1 / ek sər ˌsīz/ n 1: the discharge of an official function or professional occupation 2: the act or an instance of carrying out the terms of an agreement (as an option) exercise 2 vt cised, cis·ing 1: to make effective in action …   Law dictionary

  • Exercise — Ex er*cise, 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}.] 1. The act of exercising; a setting in action or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Exercise — Ex er*cise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Exercised}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Exercising}.] 1. 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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Exercise — Ex er*cise, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • exercise — [n1] work, effort act, action, activity, calisthenics, constitutional*, daily dozen*, discharge, discipline, drill, drilling, examination, exercising, exertion, gym, labor, lesson, movement, occupation, operation, performance, problem, pursuit,… …   New thesaurus

  • exercise — [ek′sər sīz΄] n. [ME & OFr exercice < L exercitium < pp. of exercere, to drive out (farm animals to work), hence drill, exercise < ex , out + arcere, to enclose < IE base * areq , to protect, enclose > Gr arkein] 1. active use or… …   English World dictionary

  • exercise — ► NOUN 1) activity requiring physical effort carried out for the sake of health and fitness. 2) a task set to practise or test a skill. 3) an activity carried out for a specific purpose: a public relations exercise. 4) (exercises) military drills …   English terms dictionary

  • exercise — n practice, drill (see under PRACTICE vb) Analogous words: *action, act, deed: using or use, employment, utilization, application (see corresponding verbs at USE): operation, functioning, behavior (see corresponding verbs at ACT) exercise vb… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • exercise — both as a noun and a verb, is spelt ise, not ize, and has only one c …   Modern English usage

  • exercise — exercisable, adj. /ek seuhr suyz /, n., v., exercised, exercising. n. 1. bodily or mental exertion, esp. for the sake of training or improvement of health: Walking is good exercise. 2. something done or performed as a means of practice or… …   Universalium

  • exercise — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 use of the body to keep healthy ADJECTIVE ▪ good, healthy ▪ hard, heavy, high intensity (esp. AmE), intense, strenuous, vigorous …   Collocations dictionary

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