(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
If someone or something ~s influence, authority, or pressure, they use it in a strong or determined way, especially in order to produce a particular effect. (FORMAL)
He ~ed considerable influence on the thinking of the scientific community on these issues...
VERB: V n
2.
If you ~ yourself, you make a great physical or mental effort, or work hard to do something.
Do not ~ yourself unnecessarily.
VERB: V pron-refl
~ion (~ions)
He clearly found the physical ~ion exhilarating...
N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl