tr.v. ex·ert·ed, ex·ert·ing, ex·erts 1. To put to use or effect; put forth: exerted all my strength to move the box. 2. To bring to bear; exercise: exert influence. 3. To put (oneself) to strenuous effort: exerted ourselves mightily to raise funds. [Latin exserere, exsert-, to put forth, stretch out : ex-, ex- + serere, to join; see ser-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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