Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Latin
Origin: exsertus, past participle of exserere 'to push out'

exert

 verb
     
ex‧ert [transitive]
1 to use your power, influence etc in order to make something happen:
They exerted considerable influence within the school.
Environmental groups are exerting pressure on the government to tighten pollution laws.
2

exert yourself

to work very hard and use a lot of physical or mental energy:
He has exerted himself tirelessly on behalf of the charity.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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