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Webster 1913 Edition

Exploit

Ex-ploit′

,
Noun.
[OE.
esploit
success, OF.
esploit
,
espleit
,revenue, product, vigor, force, exploit, F.
exploit
exploit, fr. L.
explicitum
, prop. p. p. neut. of
explicare
to unfold, display, exhibit;
ex
+
plicare
to fold. See
Ply
, and cf.
Explicit
,
Explicate
.]
1.
A deed or act; especially, a heroic act; a deed of renown; an adventurous or noble achievement;
as, the
exploits
of Alexander the Great
.
Ripe for
exploits
and mighty enterprises.
Shakespeare
2.
Combat; war.
[Obs.]
He made haste to
exploit
some warlike service.
Holland.
2.
[F.
exploiter
.]
To utilize; to make available; to get the value or usefulness out of;
as, to
exploit
a mine or agricultural lands; to
exploit
public opinion.
[Recent]
3.
Hence: To draw an illegitimate profit from; to speculate on; to put upon.
[Recent]
In no sense whatever does a man who accumulates a fortune by legitimate industry
exploit
his employés or make his capital “out of” anybody else.
W. G. Sumner.

Webster 1828 Edition

Exploit

EXPLOIT'

, n.
1.
A deed or act; more especially, a heroic act; a deed of renown; a great or noble achievement; as the exploits of Alexander, of Caesar, of Washington. [Exploiture, in a like sense, is not in use.]
2.
In a ludicrous sense, a great act of wickedness.

EXPLOIT'

,
Verb.
T.
To achieve. [Not in use.]

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