Ex*ploit" (?), n. [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.
Shak.
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 employ'es or make his capital "out of" anybody else.
W. G. Sumner.
© Webster 1913. | 
