You can picture exercise as putting a power into actual use so it gets stronger or sharper — the body, a skill, or a right that only counts when you actually move it.
From the word’s history
From Latin exercere 'to keep busy, drive on, train', literally ex- 'out' + arcere 'keep in/restrain' — i.e. to drive out of a state of rest into work and training.
源自拉丁文 exercere（使忙碌、驅使、操練），ex-（向外）+ arcere（關住、約束），字面是「把原本閒著的力氣驅趕出來去做事、去訓練」，正好對上「把能力拿出來操練」這個核心。
etymonline.com/word/exercise (Latin exercere, ex- + arcere)
登入就可以看每一支怎麼連回核心畫面。
原始詞典資料12 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，摘錄並精簡格式，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
exercisenoun/ˈɛk.sə.saɪz/
- 1
Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
- The teacher told us that the next exercise is to write an essay.
- Where noyse of armes, or vew of martiall guize / Might not reuiue desire of knightly exercize.
- 2
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
- I like to do my exercises every morning before breakfast. I do calisthenics for physical exercise, and I do crosswords for mental exercise.
- Regular mental exercise keeps the circuits of the brain active and healthy and reduces the risk of dementia.
- 3
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
- Swimming is good exercise.
- She does stomach exercises every day.
- 4
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
- Such exercises as puzzles and chess can help keep the mind sharp as we age.
- 5
A setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use.
- The law guarantees us the free exercise of our rights.
- We urge the exercise of patience and restraint.
- 6
The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty.
- I assisted the ailing vicar in the exercise of his parish duties.
- Lewis[…] refused even those of the church of England[…]the public exercise of their religion.
- 7
obsoleteThat which gives practice; a trial; a test.
- But patience is more oft the exerciſe / Of Saints, the trial of thir fortitude,
exerciseverb/ˈɛk.sə.saɪz/
- 1
To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop.
- to exercise troops or horses; to exercise one's brain with a puzzle
- 2
To perform physical activity for health or training.
- I exercise at the gym every day.
- 3
To use (a right, an option, etc.); to put into practice.
- exercise caution
- The tenant exercised his option to renew the tenancy.
- 4
To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious.
- exercised with pain
- It is not a question that has exercised me greatly in the past.
- 5
obsoleteTo set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to.
- And herein doe I exercise my selfe to haue alwayes a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
- Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence.
摘錄自 英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary，已精簡格式；依 CC BY-SA 4.0 授權使用，改動後的內容同樣以此授權提供。