ejercitar

Ejercitar is a Spanish verb that means to perform activities aimed at training, practicing, or strengthening a body, a skill, or an ability through regular effort. In its physical sense, it refers to doing exercises to improve health or fitness. More broadly, it can mean practicing or developing a capability (for example, ejercitar la memoria) or applying or exercising a function, right, or power, often emphasizing routine or habitual action.

Etymology and form: the verb derives from the noun ejercicio, which comes from the Latin exercitāre, related to exercitus and exercere, meanings to train, practice, or operate. In contemporary Spanish, ejercitar is a regular -ar verb.

Usage and nuance: ejercitar is commonly used with direct objects such as músculos, memoria, o habilidades, and with the reflexive form ejercitarse to indicate one’s own practice or training. In legal or administrative contexts, ejercer is more typical for rights or powers, while ejercitar stresses the act of training or practicing a capability.

Conjugation and forms: as a regular -ar verb, it follows standard endings. Present indicative: yo ejercito, tú ejercitas, él ejercita, nosotros ejercitamos, vosotros ejercitáis, ellos ejercitan. Preterite (simple past): ejercité, ejercitaste, ejercitó, ejercitamos, ejercitasteis, ejercitaron. Participio: ejercitado; gerundio: ejercitando.

Examples: Debes ejercitar el cuerpo cada día para mejorar la salud. El entrenador propone ejercicios para ejercitar la memoria. El atleta entrena diariamente para ejercitarse.