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 practicing;
     
         employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion;
     
         application; use; habitual activity; occupation, in
     
         general; practice.
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            exercise of the important function confided by the
            constitution to the legislature.      --Jefferson.
     
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            O we will walk this world,
            Yoked in all exercise of noble end.   --Tennyson.
     
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   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.
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            An exercise of the eyes and memory.   --Locke.
     
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   3. 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.
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         Webster +PJC]

            The wise for cure on exercise depend. --Dryden.
     
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   4. The performance of an office, a
         ceremony, or a religious
      duty.
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         Webster]

            Lewis refused even those of the church of England .
            . . the public exercise of their religion.
                                                  --Addison.
     
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            To draw him from his holy exercise.   --Shak.
     
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   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; arithmetic
      exercises.
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         Webster]

            The clumsy exercises of the European tourney.
                                                  --Prescott.
     
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            He seems to have taken a degree, and performed
            public exercises in Cambridge, in 1565. --Brydges.
     
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   6. That which gives practice; a trial;
         a test.
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            Patience is more oft the exercise
            Of saints, the trial of their fortitude. --Milton.
     
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   Exercise bone (Med.), a deposit of
         bony matter in the soft
      tissues, produced by pressure
         or exertion.
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