-exploit-

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Combat; war. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He made haste to exploit some warlike service. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence: To draw an illegitimate profit from; to speculate on; to put upon. [ Recent ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]