Forms: 4–6 exort(e, -horte, 4– exhort. [ad. L. exhort-āri, f. ex- intensive + hortāri to encourage: see HORTATORY. Cf. F. exhorter and ENHORT. Not now in colloquial use.]
1. trans. To admonish earnestly; to urge by stimulating words to conduct regarded as laudable. Said also of circumstances, etc.: To serve as an incitement. a. simply.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 30. If prestis ouerwile exort or monest þe peple.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxi. 247. He soo exorted me that at the houre of mydnyghte he made me to aryse hastely.
1538. Starkey, England, I. i. 25. To the wych purpos … the tyme exhortyth us.
1548–9. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Offices, 19. Then shall the minister exhort the sicke person after this fourme.
1604. Shaks., Ham., IV. iv. 46 (Qq.). Examples, gross as earth, exhort me.
1825. Lytton, Falkland, 40. Write to me … exhort me, admonish me.
absol. c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 31. Þe prest be miȝti to exort in al doctrin.
1526–34. Tindale, 2 Tim. iv. 2. Exhorte with all longe sufferinge and doctryne.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxv. 131. The words … of him that Exhorteth.
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Jerry Jarvis. Whether the Rev. Mr. Hyandry exhorted or made way for the Rev. Mr. Tearbrain.
1881. Bible (R.V.), Rom. xii. 8. He that exhorteth, to his exhorting.
b. Const. to with inf. or subord. clause.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, iv. (1890), 19. I the exhorte and counceylle that thou ne defoylle nomore thyn hondes wyth my bloode.
1532. Thynne’s ed. of Chaucer’s L. G. W. Hypsipyle & Medea, 73. That he in his neuewe Iason wolde exhorte To saylen to that londe.
1535. Coverdale, Neh. ix. 26. Thy prophetes (which exhorted them so earnestly, that they shulde conuerte vnto the).
1611. Bible, Titus ii. 6. Yong men likewise exhort, to bee sober minded.
1735. Berkeley, Def. Free-think. in Math., § 37. I have long ago done what you so often exhort me to do.
1860. Hook, Lives Abps. (1869), I. v. 226. The bishops were exhorted not to engage in secular affairs more than was necessary.
c. Const. to an action or course, a condition.
1529. More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 162/2. To call and exorte the worlde from all pleasure of the fleshe to the puritie and clennes of the body and soule.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. x. (1611), 25. The Apostle in exhorting men to contentment.
1747. Johnson, Plan Eng. Dict., Wks. IX. 185. Commonly … we exhort to good actions, we instigate to ill.
a. 1785. Glover, Athenaid, II. 45. I through each city … Have pass’d, exhorting … Greece To bold defence.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 79. The people would be exhorted to liberality from the pulpits.
2. With obj. a thing: To recommend earnestly; to insist upon.
c. 1500. New Not-br. Mayd, in Poet. Tracts (Percy Soc.), 47. What I exhorte Not herde is.
1526–34. Tindale, 1 Tim. vi. 2. These thynges teache and exhorte.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 179. While we … Designing or exhorting glorious Warr.
1771. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 8. Exhorting the repeal of those laws, so contrary to charity.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. ii. 96. He … again exhorted a reform.
