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The act or state of knowing; the exercise of the understanding.

mpt obedience." Milton. He . . . did inure them to speak little. Sir T. North. Inured and exercised in learning. Robynson (More's Utopia). The poor, inured to drudgery and distress. Cowper.

The exercise of the imagination in selecting and treating a theme, or more commonly in contriving the arrangement of a piece, or the method of presenting its parts. Invention of the cross (Eccl.), a festival celebrated May 3d, in honor of the finding of our Savior's cross by St. Helena.

To exercise the functions of a magistrate over; to govern. [Obs.] Make us a king to judge us. 1 Sam. viii. 5.

Sphere of authority; the limits within which any particular power may be exercised, or within which a government or a court has authority.

eory that education should be begun by gratifying and cultivating the normal aptitude for exercise, play, observation, imitation, and construction; -- a name given by Friedrich Froebel, a German educator, who introduced this method of training, in rooms opening on a garden.

xertion, especially when fatiguing, irksome, or unavoidable, in distinction from sportive exercise; hard, muscular effort directed to some useful end, as agriculture, manufactures, and like; servile toil; exertion; work. God hath set Labor and rest, as day and night, to men Successive. Milton.

The termination of a right or privilege through neglect to exercise it within the limited time, or through failure of some contingency; hence, the devolution of a right or privilege.

An exercise in schools, consisting in turning English into Latin. [Obs.] Ascham.

heart. See By heart, under Heart. -- To learn by rote, to memorize by repetition without exercise of the understanding.

The place within which certain immunities are enjoyed, or jurisdiction is exercised. [Eng.] Brought forth into some public or open place within the liberty of the city, and there . . . burned. Fuller.

One who has a license to exercise a profession; as, a licentiate in medicine or theology. The college of physicians, in July, 1687, published an edict, requiring all the fellows, candidates, and licentiates, to give gratuitous advice to the neighboring poor. Johnson.

To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain limited region; as, a limiting friar. [Obs.]

A certain precinct within which friars were allowed to beg, or exercise their functions; also, the time during which they were permitted to exercise their functions in such a district. Chaucer. Latimer.

Dominion; power; authority. They which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them. Mark x. 42.

A place of exercise with covered walks, in the suburbs of Athens, where Aristotle taught philosophy.

In various parts of Asia, an open space, as for military exercises, or for a market place; an open grassy tract; an esplanade.

To train in the manege, as a horse; to exercise in graceful or artful action.

al. "Manual and ocular examination." Tatham. Manual alphabet. See Dactylology. -- Manual exercise (Mil.) the exercise by which soldiers are taught the use of their muskets and other arms. -- Seal manual, the impression of a seal worn on the hand as a ring. -- Sign manual. See under Sign.

The quality of being warlike; exercises suitable for war. [Obs.]