▪ I. execute, v.
(ˈɛksɪkjuːt)
Also 5 excecute, 6 exequute, Sc. exsecute.
[ad. Fr. exécute-r = Pr. executar, Sp. ejecutar, It. esecutare, ad. med.L. execūtāre, f. L. ex(s)ecūt- ppl. stem of ex(s)equī lit. ‘to follow out’, f. ex- out + sequī to follow.]
I. To follow out into effect, carry out.
1. trans. To follow out, carry into effect (an intention, purpose, plan, instruction, or command.)
| c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 806 The destine..That executeth..The purveans, that God hath seye byforn. c 1430 Lydg. Thebes 414 To execute the biddyng of the Kyng. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 13 When ye thinke any good thought execute it. 1555 Eden Decades W. Ind. 71 Yet durst they at noo tyme execute theyr lordes commaundemente. 1696 Tate & Brady Ps. civ. 4 To execute his dreadful Will. 1776 Adam Smith W. N. ii. v. I. 371 The capital of all the individuals of a nation..is capable of executing only certain purposes. 1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike ix. 97 Large orders, which we have been unable to execute. 1837 Dickens Pickw. vii, The boy departed to execute his commission. 1858 Froude Hist. Eng. IV. xviii. 16 The regent and his friends imagined measure after measure, which they wanted resolution to execute. |
| absol. 1606 Daniel Fun. Poem Earl Devon. 211 With courage on he goes; doth exiquute With counsell. 1633 Ford Broken H. i. ii, Judgment commands, But resolution executes. 1703 Rowe Ulyss. ii. i. 797 When I bid 'em execute, 'tis done. |
† b. To give practical effect to (a passion, sentiment, principle). Also, to bring (a weapon) into operation. Obs.
| 14.. Circumcis. in Tundale's Vis. (1843) 88 Tyrranitis that the bodye slethe..To execute hur venym vp by deth. c 1477 Caxton Jason 10 b, To execute his dampnable enuye. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 83 The people..refrayned not..untill they had executed the full of their malice. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. v. vii. 6 In fellest manner execute your arme. 1608 Yorksh. Trag. i. iii, What! may I not look upon my dagger? Speak villain, or I will execute the point on thee. 1681–6 J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 338 He attempted to execute his Rage and Malice upon him. |
c. To carry into effect ministerially (a law, a judicial sentence, etc.). Cf. 6.
| 1413 Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle iv. xxxiv. (1483) 82 The gouernement..shold be admynystred and executed by suche as were of grettest bounte. 1475 Bk. Noblesse (1860) 41 Whan dew diligence have be shewed by us in executing the saide right. 1548 Hall Chron. 213 This judgement..was..executed before the Castell gate of Bristow. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. (1843) 5/1 After his return, he [Villiers] executed the same authority in conferring all favours..and revenging himself [etc.]. 1752 Fielding Amelia 3 Good laws should execute themselves in a well regulated state. 1769 Goldsm. Rom. Hist. (1786) II. 487 The only reparation..was the putting Fausta..to death; which was, accordingly, executed upon her. 1855 Prescott Philip II, ii. iii. (1857) 225 No choice was left to the civil magistrate but to execute the terrible sentence of the law against heretics. 1861 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 355/1 The messenger..has given the citation, or executed the diligence. |
d. To perform or carry out the provisions of (a will).
| 1463 Bury Wills (1850) 30 To..se that my wille be executyd trewly. 1641 Termes de La Ley 150 Executor..the person that shall execute his Testament. 1751 Chambers Cycl., Executor, a person nominated by a testator..to see his will, and testament, executed or performed. 1861 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 360/1 The acknowledgment of the debts by the defunct in his last will, which it is the duty of the executor to execute. |
2. To carry out, perform (an action, operation, movement, etc., that has been planned or prescribed, or that requires skill or care).
| 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 1 To seke & execute þ⊇ werkes..most acceptable to hym. 1549 Compl. Scot. iii. 25 The kyng anchises lamentit the distructione of the superb troy, exsecutit be the princis of greice. 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apocalips 28 To make John the redyer too execute the worke enioyned vntoo hym. 1611 Bible 2 Kings x. 30 Thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes. 1727 Swift Gulliver iii. iii. 198 Always averse from executing so terrible an action. 1809 Roland Fencing 19 To discover what is necessary to execute, at the instant the adversary exposes his body. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey vi. ii, The Prince executed a blast with great skill. 1842 Alison Hist. Europe V. xxxi. 309 Moreau executed a change of front, arranging his army parallel to that of the enemy. 1884 Punch 25 Oct. 195/2 They..execute..a wild dance..as Act-drop descends. |
† b. spec. To perform, celebrate (ceremonies, religious service). Obs.
| 1450 Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 6 Who shall execute y⊇ fest of solempnite. 1514 Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.) p. xxxii, To ordeyne ministers to execute service. 1548 Gest Pr. Masse 114 Not any real and true sacrifice..executed by the priest. 1582 N. T. (Rhem.) John vi. annot., The Clergie..when they doe not execute or say Masse themselues. 1737 Waterland Eucharist 417 Ancient Forms..properly executed..by..venerable Men. |
| absol. 1546 in Strype Eccl. Mem. II. App. A 5 The Bishop of Winchester was appointed to make the sermon: and..to execute. 1709 ― Ann. Ref. I. ix. 127 The Abp of Canterbury..who did execute, began the service. |
c. To perform acts of (justice, cruelty, vengeance, etc.). arch.
| 1530 Rastell Bk. Purgat. iii. i, [God] executyth..good & indyfferent justyce to..his creatures. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. xxviii. (1627) 286 Justice cannot be executed, nor any gouvernment or authority maintained. 1685 R. Burton Eng. Emp. Amer. i. 25 Where they executed great severity, as well as in other places. 1821 Southey in Q. Rev. XXV. 332 Lord Clarendon says that all manner of cruelty was executed. |
3. Law. To go through the formalities necessary to the validity of (a legal act, e.g. a bequest, agreement, mortgage, etc.). Hence, to complete and give validity to (the instrument by which such act is effected) by performing what the law requires to be done, as by signing, sealing, etc.
| 1737 Pope Hor. Epist. ii. ii. 92 My counsel sends to execute a deed. 1804 Wellington in Owen Disp. 434 The proposed treaty of peace..after being attentively perused, was executed by his Highness without the slightest hesitation. 1855 Prescott Philip II, i. (1857) 6 Charles the Fifth executed an instrument by which he ceded to his son the sovereignty of Flanders. 1866 Crump Banking iii. 85 An undertaking to execute a mortgage if called on to do so. |
| absol. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) IV. 33 One who executes a deed for another..must execute in the name of his principal. |
b. to execute an estate: to convey or confer an estate in property, etc., esp. by some particular operation of law, as under the Statute of Uses. Cf. † to make an estate (estate n. 11 b).
| 1536 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 10 Any person or persons..which shall haue any estate to them executed by authority of this Act. a 1626 Bacon Max. & Uses Com. Law 55 A use may be created and the estate of the land thereupon executed. 1642 Perkins Prof. Bk. iv. 123 He hath fee simple executed in the same acre. 1876 Digby Real Prop. vii. 333 Which estates could not be executed or transferred from the common law grantee to the beneficiary. |
4. a. To fulfil, discharge (an office, a function). Also, formerly, † To perform the functions of (an official position). † b. absol. or intr. Of a thing: To perform its functions, ‘work’ (obs.).
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 133 He ordeyned anoþer pope for to execute þe office of holy chirche. a 1627 Hayward (J.), The cannon against St. Stephen's gate executed so well, that the portcullis and gate were broken. 1659 Rushw. Hist. Coll. I. 78 A Fee belonging to the Place which he then executed. a 1672 Wood Life (1848) 172 Dr. Fell would not suffer him to execute the place of architypographer. 1833 J. H. Newman Lett. (1891) I. 343 Places which..none but Maltese deputies can execute. 1863 Cox Instit. iii. viii. 718 The question arose how his office was thenceforth to be executed. |
5. To carry out the design for (a product of art or skill); to produce as an artist or skilled workman; to perform (a musical composition).
| 1735 J. Price Stone Br. Thames 10 The Manner of executing the intended Bridge. 1768 W. Gilpin Ess. Prints 146 Etchings..executed in a bold and masterly manner. 1778 Eliza Warwick II. 31 She took in plain linen, and executed a good deal of it. 1804 Ann. Rev. II. 97/2 The translation is wretchedly executed. 1822 Baroness Bunsen in Hare Life I. vi. 192, I saw executed in marble the Mercury and the Hope. 1826 Ibid. II. vii. 259 An oratorio which he has this winter composed, but which has never yet been executed. 1839 J. Yeowell Anc. Brit. Ch. vii. (1847) 75 Egbert..executed a Saxon version of the four Gospels. |
| absol. 1768 W. Gilpin Ess. Prints 32 Every artist..executes in a manner peculiar to himself. 1774 The Trinket 46 Charlotte did not execute amiss. |
II. To do execution upon.
[It is not quite clear whether these uses, which occur early in Fr. and med.L., were merely developed from 1 c, or whether they partly represent the etymological notion of L. exsequi ‘to pursue to the end.’]
6. To inflict capital punishment upon; to put to death in pursuance of a sentence. More fully, † to execute to death [= Fr. † exécuter à mort]. † to execute by the head: to behead.
| 1483 Caxton Cato B iij b, To robbe and to stele wherfore they be hanged or otherwyse executed by Justyse. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. clxxxvii, They were executed by dyuers tourmentes of dethe. 1548 Hall Chron. 13 b, Sir Thomas Blonte and all the other prysoners were executed. 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619) 182 First of all Theotecnus himselfe..he executed to death. 1579 Fenton Guicciard. iv. (1599) 180 He was executed by the head the day following. 1603 Florio Montaigne (1634) 514 Divers of their chieftains have been executed to death. a 1687 Petty Pol. Arith. Pref. (1691) A iij, No more Beggars in the Streets, nor executed for Thieves, than heretofore. 1715 M. Davies Athen. Brit. I. 133 Prosecuting and Executing those to death, who [etc.]. 1847 James Gowrie xlvi, Three of the Earl's faithful servants were executed at Perth. |
† b. Hence for: To put to death, kill. rare.
| [1557 North tr. Gueuara's Diall Pr. 68 b/2 When death hathe done his office, executing all earthelye men.] 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, iv. i. 82 Thou Aumerle, didst send two of thy men, To execute the Noble Duke at Callis. |
† 7. To take the body of (a debtor) in execution. (See execution 7.) Obs. rare.
| 1608 Yorksh. Trag. i. iv, Your brother..lies in bond executed for your debt. |
† 8. [after Fr. exécuter] To subject (a country) to military execution. (See execution 9.) Obs.
| 1679 Lond. Gaz. No. 1393/3 The French..are resolved to exact the Contributions..from the Mayery of Bolduc, and in case they are not paid, to execute the Countrey. |
† III. 9. To deal with as an executor; to administer. Obs. rare—1.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 352/3 Late euery executour be ware that he execute well the goodes of them that they haue charge of. |
▪ II. † ˈexecute, pa. pple. Obs.
Also 4–7 execut(t, 6 Sc. exsecut.
[ad. L. execūt-us, pa. pple. of exequī: see execute v.]
= executed.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 622 (Camp. MS.) But execut was al byside here leue At the goddes wyl. c 1430 Lydg. Thebes 255 Wher the domys and plees of the toun weren execut. 1549 Compl. Scot. Ep. Ded. 2 The actis that ȝour prudens garris daly be exsecut. 1560 Rolland Crt. Venus i. 863 Heir we..Be this our letter Execute and Indorsat dewlie. 1642 Perkins Prof. Bk. ii. 75 The estate taile shall bee execute in the Donee. 1682 Lond. Gaz. No. 1682/1 The said Archibald Earl of Argile to be Execute to the Death. 1711 Countrey-M. Let. to Curat 6 This act..was oftimes severely Execute. |