Lewis & Short

2. exercĭtus, ūs (gen. sing. exerciti, Naev. ap. Charis. p. 103 P.; Att. Trag. Fragm. 150, 311 (Rib. p. 155, 177); Varr. ap. Non. 485, 16 sq. EXERCITVIS, acc. to Non. ib. 11, without example. EXERCITVVS, Inscr. Orell. 4922.
Dat.: exercitu, Caes. B. C. 3, 96; Liv. 9, 5; 9, 41; 22, 1 al.), m. [exerceo].

  1. * I. Lit., exercise: pro exercitu gymnastico et palaestrico, etc., Plaut. Rud. 2, 1, 7.
    1. B. Transf., concr., in milit. lang., an exercised, disciplined body of men, an army (syn.: agmen, acies, phalanx, caterva, manus, legiones): exercitum non unam cohortem neque unam alam dicimus, sed numeros multos militum. Nam exercitui praeesse dicimus eum, qui legionem vel legiones administrat, Dig. 3, 2, 2: horrescit telis exercitus asper utrimque, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 4 (Ann. v. 385, ed. Vahl.); Enn. Ann. 14, 13: exercitum comparare, Cic. Phil. 4, 3, 6: abire in exercitum, Plaut. Am. prol. 102; 125: venire ab exercitu, id. ib. 140: adesse ad exercitum, id. ib. 1, 3, 6: e castris educere exercitum, id. ib. 1, 1, 61 (cf.: ex oppido legiones educere, id. ib. v. 63); cf.: exercitum conscribere, comparare, id. ib. 5, 13, 36: parare, Sall. C. 29, 3: scribere, Liv. 2, 43, 5: conficere, Cic. Phil. 5, 16, 43; id. de Imp. Pomp. 21, 61: facere, id. Phil. 5, 8, 23: conflare, id. ib. 4, 6, 15: contrahere, Caes. B. G. 1, 34, 3: cogere, id. ib. 3, 17, 2; Sall. J. 10, 4: ducere, Cic. Mur. 9, 20: ductare, Sall. C. 11, 5; 17, 7: transducere, Caes. B. G. 1, 13, 1 et saep.
      As a land army, in opposition to a naval army or fleet: eodem tempore et exercitus ostendebatur et classis intrabat portum, Liv. 26, 42, 2. As infantry, in opposition to cavalry: (Caesar) exercitum equitatumque castris continuit, Caes. B. G. 2, 11, 2; 7, 61, 2; 1, 48, 4; Liv. 30, 36, 8; 40, 52, 6; cf. Drak. id. 28, 1, 5.
      1. 2. Transf.
          1. (α) The assembly of the people in the Centuria Comitiata, as being a military organization, Varr. L. L. 6, 9, § 88; cf. Gell. 15, 27 fin.; Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 50; 52.
          2. (β) Poet., in gen., a multitude, host, swarm, flock: corvorum, Verg. G. 1, 382; id. A. 5, 824; Sil. 11, 413.
          3. (γ) A troop, body of attendants, etc.: huic illut dolet, quia remissus est edundi exercitus, Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 50: remissum imperare exercitum, id. ib. v. 52.
  2. * II. (Acc. to exerceo, II. C.) Trouble, affliction: Noli, obsecro, lacrimis tuis mihi exercitum imperare, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 60.