exercer

Forms

exercer^[1] Old French essercier, essercer;^[2][3] Anglo-Norman also excercer and exerser.^[4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin exerceō (“to keep in motion, give no rest, train, practise”),^[2][5][6][7] at first in the form essercier, which was remade after the Latin in the 13th and 14th centuries.^[8][2] Picoche counts it among the learned words, and Bloch and Wartburg call it a borrowing.^[6][5] The Latin verb meant to chase, to keep busy or harass, hence to test or torment, to work and, with an object, to practise.^[8][6] It is formed ex- and arceō (“to hold in, keep off”), the prefix having a negative value.^[8][6][3][9] In the 16th century exerciter, from Latin exercitō, was also much used.^[10]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1121–1134, in Philippe de Thaon's Bestiaire, as essercier “to practise (a discipline)”, of holy scripture, with no idea of methodical training.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

The first sense, “to practise”, was common in the classical period and is literary today.^[8] The reflexive soi exercer “to train, school oneself by suitable exercises” is found in the 13th or 14th century, the corresponding transitive “to train (someone)” only in the 16th.^[2][8] From 1340 the verb meant “to devote oneself to (an office or profession)”, hence the absolute use of the liberal professions, as of a doctor or lawyer still in practice.^[2][8] By the end of the 14th century it also meant “to wield (what one has at one's disposal)”, as justice or power (Froissart); from 1548 it also meant “to put (a means of action) to use” (Marguerite de Navarre).^[2][8]

The Latin sense “to put to the test” (Calvin, 1551) is now archaic, and “to torment” has gone out of use.^[2][8] The adjective exercé “made skilful by practice” dates from 1679, and its opposite inexercé from 1794.^[8]

Timeline

• 1121–1134 – Essercier “to practise” in Philippe de Thaon's Bestiaire.^[2][8]
• 13th–14th century – The reflexive soi exercer appears.^[2][8]
• 1340 – It is used for practising an office or profession.^[2][8]
• late 14th century – Froissart uses it of justice exercised.^[2]
• 1548 – “To put to use”, in Marguerite de Navarre.^[2][8]
• 1551 – Calvin uses it for “to put to the test”.^[2][8]
• 1679 – The adjective exercé is recorded.^[8]
• 1794 – Inexercé is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Verb

1. To train or develop (the body, a faculty) by regular activity: to exercise one's muscles, voice or memory.^[11][12][9]
2. To train (a person or an animal) to do something.^[11][12][10]
3. To bring into play, wield (a right, a power, one's authority, an influence).^[12][8]
4. To practise (a profession, an office); used absolutely, to be in practice, of doctors and lawyers.^[8][2][13]
5. (reflexive) S'exercer: to practise, to train oneself.^[8][10]
6. (fiscal) To inspect certain trades regularly to ensure that duties are paid.^[13]
7. (archaic) To put to the test.^[8]

Word family

• exercé
• inexercé

Related words

• exercice
• coercition
• autarcie
• Latin exerceō

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 292a
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
11. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
12. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
13. ^ a b Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org