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ctivity; exertion; application; use; habitual activity; occupation, in general; practice. exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to the legislature. Jefferson. O we will walk this world, Yoked in all exercise of noble end. Tennyson.

One who exercises.

To deprive of exercise; to leave untrained. [Obs.] By disexercising and blunting our abilities. Milton.

Any one of a series of gymnastic exercises used, as in drilling recruits, for the purpose of giving an erect carriage, supple muscles, and an easy control of the limbs.

The exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven.

That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed. That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love. Wordsworth. Hence, in specific uses:

To determine in the exercise of judicial power; to decide or award judicially; to adjudicate; as, the case was adjudged in the November term.

Dexterous in the use of the hands or in the exercise of the mental faculties; exhibiting skill and readiness in avoiding danger or escaping difficulty; ready in invention or execution; -- applied to persons and to acts; as, an adroit mechanic, an adroit reply. "Adroit in the application of the telescope and quadrant."…

der to the mayor and having a legislative function. They may, in some cases, individually exercise some magisterial and administrative functions.

omed to move from place to place; not stationary; movable; as, an ambulatory court, which exercises its jurisdiction in different places. The priesthood . . . before was very ambulatory, and dispersed into all families. Jer. Taylor.

The exercise of the power of designating (under a "power of appointment") a person to enjoy an estate or other specific property; also, the instrument by which the designation is made.

Sports or exercises practiced in or on the water.

Exercised according to one's own will or caprice, and therefore conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the possession of power. Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused licentiousness. Washington.

primate) who superintends the conduct of the suffragan bishops in his province, and also exercises episcopal authority in his own diocese.

The jurisdiction or office of an archbishop; the see or province over which archbishop exercises archiepiscopal authority.

Any one trained to contend in exercises requiring great physical agility and strength; one who has great activity and strength; a champion.

Of or pertaining to athletes or to the exercises practiced by them; as, athletic games or sports.

The art of training by athletic exercises; the games and sports of athletes.

s of some of the lower plants, consisting of two centrospheres containing centrosomes. It exercises an important function in mitosis.

Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court. Thus can the demigod, Authority, Make us pay down for our offe…