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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Exercis(e, -cese, v. Also: exercice, -sisse, -ceis(e, -seise. [ME. exercise (Wyclif), -sise, etc., f. Exerce v., after the noun.]

1. tr. To practise using. 1456 Hay II. 16/24.
To exercise wapnis, and othir habiliteis of honour quhilk appertenis to nobles

2. To perform, carry on, practise. 1536 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 318.
Quheneuir he beis requirit … to … exerceis the best and maist ingenious poyntis and practikis of his craft a1578 Pitsc. I. 67/4.
He conselled thame exerceis skarting and oppressioun wpoun the realme 1622-6 Bisset I. 29/22.
He statute … That nane exerciced the airt of medicene without thay war tryed 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 342.
To imped any persoune … to presume to exerceis any poynt of the arte of chirurgianrie or barbourie … till he be tryed

3. To discharge the duties of (an office). 1543 Reg. Privy S. III. 3/2.
To use and exercese the samin [office] … als frelie as ony uther custumar-clerk of the said burgh a1578 Pitsc. I. 14/10.
He had worthielie exersissed the samyn office in king James the firstis tyme 1622-6 Bisset I. 94/34.
All the … officiallis, for the tyme that exerceis thair offices

b. To wield (power or authority). 1622-6 Bisset I. 95/5.
So that archebischopis [etc.] … sall exerceise no jurisdictioun or lordschip in haill or in pairt over thame 1652 Aberd. B. Rec. 129.
The authoritie of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Ingland, exerceisit in Scotland

4. To train by practice; to employ. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 9.
The auditouris salbe diligently exercisit in verse and oration Ib. 11.
To se that thay be dewly exercist, and specialy in lerning to writ 1589 Logie Par. Hist. I. 21.
To incres be farther exercesein him self in the saids grunds againe quhat tyme soevir the brethrein sall try him 1613 Marischal Coll. Rec. I. 132.
To exerceis and teach the inferiour seidges in arithmetick 1622-6 Bisset II. 194/15.
King Malcolme … [was] occupyed or exercesed in founding and causing build of that fair … monument

5. intr. To perform the presbyterial exercise. 1597 Ellon Presb. 5.
The quhilk day Maister lohn Herriot exercesed … Mr Thomas Garden eiked 1611 Hist. Rev. 107.
The forme of tryell of persounes … quha hes not exerseisit publictlie 1630 Kirkcaldy Presb. 6.
The whilk day the moderator excercised without additione 1631 Strathbogie Presb. 2.
Fraser ordained to exerceis the next day, and Maitland to adde upon the texte of the exerceis 1644 Ib. 56.
James Gordon exercises, and Al. Fraser adds