Exert
/ɪɡˈzɜːrt/noun
To make a strong physical or mental effort; to put force or influence into action.
Did you know?Exert comes through Latin exserere/exsertus, tied to the image of thrusting something out or forth, which is why the word still feels like energy being pushed into action.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ser-
“to join, line up, or arrange”
Latin
Latin
serere
“to join, link, or weave together”
Latin
Latin
exserere
“to thrust out, put forth, or extend”
Latin
Latin
exsertus
“thrust out; protruding”
16th Century
English
exert
“to put forth, bring to bear, or apply force”
Modern English
English
exert
“to make a strong effort or apply influence or force”