execute
- execute
\ \ [14] The original meaning of execute in English was ‘carry out’, but the sense ‘kill judicially’ had already developed by the end of the 15th century (it comes from the notion of ‘carrying out’ a sentence). The word comes via Old French executer from medieval Latin executāre, a derivative of Latin exsequī. This, a compound formed from the intensive prefix exand sequī ‘follow’ (source of English consecutive, consequent, obsequious, sequence, subsequent, etc), meant originally ‘follow to the end, pursue’, and hence ‘follow through, carry out, fulfil’. Its derivative exsequiās ‘funeral procession’ produced English exequies [14].
\ \ Cf.⇒ CONSECUTIVE, CONSEQUENT, OBSEQUIOUS, SEQUENCE, SUBSEQUENT
Word origins - 2ed.
J. Ayto.
2005.
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Look at other dictionaries:
execute — ex·e·cute / ek si ˌkyüt/ vt cut·ed, cut·ing 1: perform: as a: to carry out fully includes not only executed violence, but also threatened violence Louisiana Civil Code … Law dictionary
execute — ex‧e‧cute [ˈekskjuːt] verb [transitive] 1. to do what is written in a contract, plan etc: • The directors make the decisions but the managers have to execute them. • UK companies with a proven management ability to execute a business plan 2.… … Financial and business terms
Execute — Ex e*cute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Executed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Executing}.] [F. ex[ e]cuter, L. executus, exsecutus, p. p. of exequi to follow to the end, pursue; ex out + sequi to follow. See {Second}, {Sue} to follow up, and cf. {Exequy}.] 1. To… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
exécuté — exécuté, ée (è gzé ku té, tée) part. passé. 1° Mené à accomplissement. • Ce que tu m as dicté, Je veux de point en point qu il soit exécuté, RAC. Esth. II, 5. • Nos lois, nos justes lois seront exécutées, VOLT. Scythes, IV, 8. 2° Joué, en … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
execute — [ek′si kyo͞ot΄] vt. executed, executing [ME executen < OFr executer, back form. < executeur: see EXECUTOR] 1. to follow out or carry out; do; perform; fulfill [to execute another s orders] 2. to carry into effect; administer (laws, etc.) 3 … English World dictionary
execute — [v1] kill assassinate, behead, bump off*, do in*, electrocute, eliminate, finish, gas, guillotine, hang, knock off*, liquidate, murder, purge, put away*, put to death, shoot; concept 252 Ant. bear, create execute [v2] carry out a task accomplish … New thesaurus
Execute — Ex e*cute, v. i. 1. To do one s work; to act one s part or purpose. [R.] Hayward. [1913 Webster] 2. To perform musically. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
execute — To carry out according to its terms (SA Bankruptcy.com) United Glossary of Bankruptcy Terms 2012 … Glossary of Bankruptcy
execute — [engl.], ausführen … Universal-Lexikon
execute — late 14c., to carry into effect, from O.Fr. executer (14c.), from M.L. executare, from L. execut /exsecut , pp. stem of exequi/exsequi to follow out (see EXECUTION (Cf. execution)). Meaning to inflict capital punishment is from late 15c. Related … Etymology dictionary
execute — 1 effect, fulfill, discharge, *perform, accomplish, achieve Analogous words: complete, finish, conclude, *close: *realize, actualize, externalize, objectify 2 *kill, dispatch, slay, murder, assassinate … New Dictionary of Synonyms
