exert

From Latin exsertus, past participle of exsero.

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exert (third-person singular simple present exerts, present participle exerting, simple past and past participle exerted)

1. To put in vigorous action.

   I exerted myself in today's training.

2. To make use of, to apply, especially of something non-material.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess‎:

     Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.

   • 2012 April 18, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona”, in BBC Sport:

     Di Matteo clearly saw Drogba's power as a potential threat to a Barcelona defence stripped of Gerard Pique - but he barely caught sight of goal in a first 45 minutes in which the Catalans exerted their technical superiority.

   He considered exerting his influence on John to gain an advantage for himself.

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