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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.

Exerce, Exers, Excers, v. Also: ex(c)erse, exhers, exersh. [ME. exerce (Chaucer), excerse, -cerce, OF. exercer, L. exercēre. Rare in ME., in Sc. more common than exercise.]

1. tr. To make use of; to avail oneself of. 1462 Misc. Spald. C. V. 286.
To follow and pursue the said wodset … and males bypast of it to obtein and exerce 1511 Reg. Privy S. I. 337/2.
A Lettre … of the tak of the grete custumis of … the burghis … with power to excers and use the sammyn 1608 Stirling Merch. Guild 27.
[He] actit him self not to exerce the said libertie within the said castell 1726 in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874) 36.
Declareing if I do not exerce these faculteis in my own time these presents shall remain a valed evident

2. To discharge the duties of (an office).(a) 1508 Reg. Panmure II. 279.
We … dispones to … Sir Thomas our bailyiary of Barry, for to exerce and make offissers and to hauld court 1516 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 163.
The said Robert swore … to … exerce diligentlie the said office 1542 Acts II. 412/2.
The narrest lauchtfull of hir blude, able to succede and to exerce the said office 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 179.
Becaus my aige will not suffer me to exerce my chairge my self 1610 Stirling B. Rec. I. 126.
[They shall] be sworne … that they sall leillie and trewlie exerce thair offices for that yeir to cum 1639 Marq. Hamilton Expl. Oath and Covenant 16.
Actuall preachers and ministers in the kirk, or such as shall take upon them to exerce the said function a1639 Spottisw. Hist. 543.
He exerced his place with great moderation 1666 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 224.
They did find him qualified and able to exerce the office and charge of ane of the four masters of the said gramer scool(b) 1485 Exch. R. IX. 313.
James of Douglas … has had and exersit the office of chaumerlanery of oure lordschip of Murray 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 314/2.
Frely to exers and use all officis and dedis lauchfull 1529 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIX. 157.
That the said James … use and exers the said office of directory of oure chancellarie according to our gift

3. To perform, do (an act, etc.).(a) 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 272/2.
All utheris thingis to exerce and use that to the office of a bailȝe … richtly pertenis 1572 Bann. Memor. 314.
That the airis … be restored … and exerce all lawfull deidis in judgement and without 1588 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 515.
That his wyfe and seruands sall vse and exerce na poynt of commoun cwikry outwith his awin hous a1650 Row 45.
To concur … with the Archbishop in his visitations, whilk he exerces be vertue of his Commission 1677 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 43.
I sall do and exerce all thingis lefull and honest tuiching my service(b) 1460 Ayr Charters 34.
As we ar informit, ye mak you till exerse and oysse the kepyng of the said new fayr with wrangwys customis 1506 Liber Aberbr. 370.
All othir necessar thingis to do, vse, exers, and hant neidful to fisching craft 1513 Doug. x. xiii. 117.
That he may, when the son schynys agane, Exers hys journe, or hys wark alsfast 1559 Coll. Aberd. & B. 314.
Al and sindry other thingis … to hand [sic], do, wis and exers that to the office of bailyary pertenis(c) 1456 Hay II. 44/4.
Honour and worschip of lordis of estate may nocht be kepit, bot … noble actis of honour excersit 1492 Myll Spect. 292.
I will draw me to the place quhar I may maist secretlye excers the office of luf 1504 Breadalbane P. (Reg. H.) No. 32.
All vthir … thingis to do, excers, and vs that to the said office … is neidfull 1513 Doug. v. iii. 21.
The trumpet … notyfyis The gemmys tobe excersyt for that day Ib. xi. xiii. 140.
Sa lang as fatis sufferit hym in fycht To excers prettykis, juperty, or slycht

4. To practise, display in action, carry on.(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 106.
Exerce justice with mercy and conscience 1531 Bell. Boece I. 23.
That he micht, be untraist suddante, the more cruelte exerce a1568 Bann. MS. 27 a/36.
Exerce vertew, and banys euery vice 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 374.
All thir foirfalts … That lords, lairds, ladys, and lawers dois exerce 1590 Digest Justiciary Proc. M. 16.
Thow art accussit … of exerceing … the perverst inchantmentis, witchcraft, devilrie, incantatiounis & socerie(c) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2044.
Bot thai may nouthir resonabilly Excers thare wikkit adultry c1515 Asl. MS. I. 172/20.
He that will be ane werray noble, stable & rute in his hert thir xij wertuis and excers thaim daly 1513 Doug. iv. ix. 42.
Agane my wil, ful sayr constrenyt am I Art magyk to excers or sossory

b. To carry on, prosecute (a trade or calling).(a) 1483 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 47.
That na hammerman … exerce or vse ony ma craftis bot alanerly ane c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxv. 7.
The craift exerceing, considdering not the fyne 1531 Bell. Boece I. 48.
He inhibit … that ony man exerce the art of medicinary 1600 Cath. Tr. 225/20.
To keip scheip … or exerce vther temporal vocation 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II. 5.
Unfriemen exerceing merchandice within this burgh 1691 Acts Sederunt 32.
That … no person be admitted notar, unless … he hath had good breeding, for qualifyng him to exerce the trust of a publick(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiv. 69.
Exers that craft in all thy lyfe 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 75.
We will that nane exerse nor hant the office of brewyn, … vine selling, or vther mercheandis 1567 Sat. P. iii. 54.
He … did exerse the science liberall(c) 1495 Reg. Cupar A. I. 246.
We will that nane hant nor excers the office of brewing … or ony vthir merchandis

c. To hold (a fair or market). 1536 Reg. Great S. 395/1.
To be usit and exercite be thame als frelie … as ony uther fair is usit &c. 1641 Peebles B. Rec. 104.
To hald, bruik, joyce and exerce weiklie within the said brugh mercat dayes Ib. 105.
That na persoune … preswme to vsurpe, exerce, and occupie … mercatis or vse of merchandice

5. To exert, put forth, apply.(a) 1513 Doug. v. iv. 61 (R).
Now schwa that strenth … Quhilk on the schaldis of Affrik … Ȝe dyd exerce 1531 Bell. Boece II. 95.
Exerce youre wraith and cruelte on him, sen he is first rute of al this trubill 1567 G. Ball. 184.
Thay … will exerce thair tyrannie On ȝow 1652 St. A. Baxter Bks. 142.
The decan … to exerce the haill rigour lau of traid(b) 1488 Acts II. 210/1.
At he may exhers iustice vniuersaly to all his liegis 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 244/2.
To lere and study the Kingis lawes … , and eftirward to exers and use the sammyn 1513 Doug. viii. vii. 60.
Ȝour strenth exers and pythis schaw 1567 G. Ball. 117.
Thair tyrannie aganis thy commandis, Rycht cruellie exersit in dispyte a1570-86 Maitl. F. lx. 61.
Exerse thy cunning … And gar thy worde and deid aggre

6. To possess and use (power). 1588 King Cat. 9.
Our lord Jesus … exerceing æqual power with the father

7. To occupy (esp. a person) in, or train by, practice or exercise. 1513 Doug. vi. x. 35.
Sum thar … Into palestral plays … Thar membris gan exers Ib. viii. vii. 98.
Sche … hir pur damysellis … Natly excercis forto wirk the lyne 1549 Compl. 9/4.
He statut ane ordinance til excerse his propir childir … to vse them til indure excesse of laubirs 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 10.
Sa of his plesure it plesit him prouyde Us to exerce as ship vnder the saill 1596 Dalr. I. 92/16.
In handling of waiponis [to] exerce thame with all diligence

b. refl. To exercise or employ (oneself). a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 140.
Scho … with hir baid … Hirself exersand in humilite c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 344.
Quhairfor lat euiry man … excerse him self thairin diligently 1531 Bell. Boece I. 13.
The Scottis exerceing thaim in craft of hunting, halking, and nurising of thair bestiall 1549 Compl. 37/6.
I thocht it necessair til excerse me vitht sum actyue recreatione 1567 Sat. P. v. 85.
Exerce your selfis in gentill weir

c. In pa. pple. Exercised; made expert. 1513 Doug. x. ii. 71.
Quharto assalȝeis thou a strang cite, That hes bene oft exercyt in melle 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. lvi.
Thay war exercit in wirsling, or uther corporall exercition 1545 Douglas Corr. 154.
The Guvernour … vas ane luste ȝung man, and meit to be exersit in varefare 1562-3 Winȝet I. 54/8.
Albeit I wes nocht sa weill exerceit in the Scripturis as become me of my aige and vocatioun a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xx. 14.
In cheritable deidis exercit be

8. intr. To act; to employ oneself. 1512 Reg. Privy S. I. 367/2.
A lettre … makand him custumar of the burgh … with power to excers thairin and make deputis 1513 Doug. viii. viii. 141.
Our son … I sal adione in falloschip, … to exers vnder thé