Middle English Dictionary Entry
exercīse, -īce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | exercīse, -īce n. Also excercite. |
| Etymology | OF exercice. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Activity, application, effort (esp., as opp. to inactivity, idleness); (b) physical exercise or exertion.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)268 : Clannes may not be had wiþoute gret exercise bodili & continuel trauayl of spirit.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.88 : To hawnte his body in pleies marcyal, Thoruȝ excersice texclude slouthe at al.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)22/14,32 : Oure outwarde & oure inwarde exercises..boþe are expedient & helping to gostly profit..Not slowe to common þinges, and more redy to priuate & singuler exercises.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4029 : Attempree diete was al hir phisyk, And exercise, and hertes suffisaunce.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)94b/b : Þat..þingez be eschewed, as..lecherie & stronge excercise.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)22/27 : Bodely exercises are to be done discretly.
2.
(a) Actual performance or practice; an overt action or practice; puten in exercise, put into practice, translate into action or deeds; haven ~, to be practiced; (b) actual use (of an instrument), employment (of signs).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)441 : Þou badist hem to putte her preiers in exercise.
- c1456(a1449) Lydg.Epistle Sibille (Ashm 59)12 : By excercyse þeire werkes oute to sheede To gif ensaumple, voyding ydelnesse.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.110 : Þe vertu wiche I hadde of the [Philosophy] Schulde not ben hid..Hit myght be schewed and put in excersise.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)279 : What helpeth it, if ignobilitee Have exercise in werre and wagys large.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)243/10 : The enterprises and the excercites [CQ(2): excersises] of the Kynge Charles the Grete gaue to Rolland, Olyuere, and Oger thaire grete renoun.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)21/13 : Þe exercises of a gode Religiose man.
b
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)273 : Thouȝ the excercise and vce of suche now seid visible signes..is good and profitable.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11445 : Excercyse..Ys bet than any ffoorbysshour.
3.
(a) The performance (of an official or proper function or duty), the exercise (of authority or power); (b) the carrying on (of an enterprise); practicing (of a craft); conduct (of a school), teaching; playing (of games).
Associated quotations
a
- (1432) Paston2.35 : He may putte hem from excercise and occupacion of the Kinges service.
- (1432) Paston2.36 : In the exercise of the charge and occupacion that he hathe aboute the Kinges persone.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3244 : O thou Iustise,..Wher in effect is now your exercise? Wher is your wonyng?
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)90 : I wolde also that the office of preching had his dew honour..and his dew wiseli to be don, exercise and execucioun.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)130 : The facultes and the excresisse of the governaunce and disposyscyon of the goode publique.
b
- (1449) Rec.Norwich 2286 : Noman to haue the cloþinge of ther crafte but if he be of exercise of a certen crafte.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.125 : There was the fyrste excersyse of dyuyne scole,..ffor on phatenus..fful many a yeer red there wyth besy entent.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)12/6 : Whan he had kept þis exersise [the teaching of grammar] longe in his owne cite.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)36 : The Grekes..every fift ȝere schuld have exercise of al manere games.
4.
(a) Effort, application; devotion to or striving for (right living, virtue, etc.); (b) indulgence (in vices).
Associated quotations
a
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)118/19 : Þos men..þat has it in custum with longe exercise to pray.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)214/36 : It wil be had but in gret qwyet of sowle thorw long excersyse.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)16/6 : A saule þat haues by..lange trauayle of bodyly & gastely excercyse ouercommen..concupyscens.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)35 : Forto kunne reule hym to þe plesaunce of god in exercise of alle maner goostli werkis.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)416 : To haue exercise of manye foold kyndis of vertu bisidis her exercise of meditacioun, of preising, and of preier.
- a1456(a1407) Scogan MB (Ashm 59)43 : Looke ay, goodenesse beo in youre excercyse.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)3.5 : Fra ded til lyf, fra ydelnes til excercise in godis seruys.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)23520 : Erly on morwen to aryse, in vertu to haue excercyse.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.532 : Of custume and of excercice The mannes grace hou it [drunkenness] fordoth.
5.
Practice, practical experience, training, discipline, education, or improvement (in an art or trade); also, experience or skill derived from such activities.
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1156 : He..suffreth vs, as for oure exercise, With sharpe scourges of aduersitee..to be bete.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2345 : Þouȝ he..haue in armys passynge excercise.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.794 : On horse and fote..To ȝeue his men in knyȝthod excersyse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3771 : To hauen excersyce Fro day to day in Martis hiȝe seruyse.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)0a/b : To solace of age & excercise of mynde.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)35/29 : A gode leche.. experte of long exercise.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.9 : Artificeres hauyng exercise May chaunge..Shappis, formys, and newli hem deuyse.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)5 : Bi laboure and excercise in oure natural powers of resoun and wil.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)274 : Reding and heering in Goddis word..is an excercise in hereable signes ȝouun to us fro God.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)213 : Alle his daies filde In disciplyne of were and exercise.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2773 : The maryners..be wedir wise; By discipline of it ha thei no part, But of longe vsage or exercise.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(?1451) Petrarch Secret.(Add 60577)24/816 : Conceytes and fantasyes and ymagynacyons [L imagines] of terrene excersyse, after þat they be conceyvede in þe bodyly wytt..in þe sowle they knytt.
Note: Appears to belong loosely to sense 5., terrene ~ being 'experience as a physical and corporeal being.'