▪ I. exact, a.
(ɛgˈzækt)
[ad. L. exact-us, pa. pple. of exigĕre: see exact v.
The L. adj. has the senses (1) ‘highly finished, consummate’, from the vb. in the sense ‘to complete, bring to perfection’, and (2) ‘accurate, precise’, from the vb. in the sense ‘to calculate precisely’. See exact v.]
I. Perfected, consummate, ‘finished’.
† 1. Of qualities, conditions, attainments, etc.: Consummate, finished, refined, perfect. Rarely in bad sense. Obs.
Expressions like ‘exact taste’ have a mixed notion of sense 5 b, to which the later instances should perh. be referred.
| 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Providence viii, We all acknowledge both thy power and love To be exact, transcendent, and divine. a 1659 Osborn Queries Epist. (1673) S s iv b, The imployment of Children in their exactest Innocencie, being to make Houses and raise Pies of Dirt. 1661 Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. Introd., The hearing is most exact in the hare. 1676 Hale Contempl. i. 123 They..pursued..their Redeemer with..exact Bitterness. 1702 C. Mather Magn. Chr. iii. iii. (1852) 546 Certain Indians, whose exacter education he was desirous of. 1726 W. R. Chetwood Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 203 Every Feature so exact and uniform..that I was amaz'd. 1727 Swift To a very yng. Lady, A man..of an excellent understanding, and an exact taste. |
† 2. Of persons: Highly skilled, accomplished, (in taste) refined. Obs.
| 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. i. 28 Baldwine a Deuonshire man..was a very eloquent man, an exact Philosopher. c 1616 Fletcher Q. Corinth i. ii, A Lady of your youth..a most exact lady, may doe all this Out of a vertuous love. 1656 R. Robinson Christ All 80 Christ, he is as exact in all spiritual diseases as he is in any disease. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 1017 Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste. 1725 Pope Odyss. xvi. 275 Two Sew'rs..Exact of taste. |
† 3. Of material objects: Highly wrought, elaborate. Of buildings, etc.: Well-designed. Obs.
| 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 477 Smallest Lineaments exact In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride. c 1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 89 A very Exact house and gardens. |
II. Precise, rigorous, accurate.
4. Of law and its administration, rules, order, procedure, etc.: Admitting of no deviation, precise, rigorous. † Of diet: Strictly regulated.
| 1538 Starkey England i. ii. 52 Hyt was not possybul sodeynly, by exacte law and pollycy, to bryng such a rude multytude to perfayt cyvylyte. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. ii. (1611) 4 Observeth in working a most exact order or lawe. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet 355 The Patient..may protract a miserable Life with an exact thin Diet of Whey Broths, etc. 1748 Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. 296 Here there is the exactest Uniformity. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. iii. 414 The troops were kept in such exact discipline, that the people..remained in their houses. 1870 Emerson Soc. & Solit., Eloq. Wks. (Bohn) III. 41 Eloquence..rests on laws the most exact and determinate. |
5. a. Of actions, processes, investigations, knowledge, etc.: Accurate in detail, strict, rigorous.
| 1533 More Apol. i. Wks. 845/2 Suche exacte cyrcumspeccion..to be by me vsed in my wryting. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 6 b, There nedeth..an exacter diligence. 1603 Jas. I in Ellis Orig. Lett. i. 244. III. 81 How waire judgis should be in trusting accusations withoute an exacte tryall. 1658 Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 324 That Tho. Johnson and Rob{supt} Chilton doe take an exact veiw of all the leads about the church. 1791 Cowper Odyss. i. 549 Folding it with the exactest care. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho i, He gave an exact acquaintance with every part of elegant literature. 1857 Dickens Lett. (1880) II. 19, I shall act upon it in the most exact manner. 1857 Buckle Civiliz. I. vii. 337 [Boyle] was the first who instituted exact experiments into the relation between colour and heat. |
b. Of persons or their faculties: Characterized by accuracy of knowledge, observation, statement, workmanship, conduct, etc. Of a judge, etc.: Strict, rigorous.
| 1597 Bacon Ess., Studies (Arb.) 10 Reading maketh a full man, conference a readye man, and writing an exacte man. 1607 Shakes. Timon ii. ii. 165 Call me before th'exactest Auditors And set me on the proofe. 1659 Hammond On Ps. cxliii. 2 Paraphr. 690 To appear with hope or comfort before thine exact tribunal! 1682 Burnet Rights Princes v. 148 Mezeray is the exacter Writer. 1696 Whiston Th. Earth i. (1722) 34, I have followed our most exact Observer Mr. Flamstead. 1725 Pope Odyss. xxi. 439 The bow perusing with exactest eye. 1780 Cowper Table-t. 646 Then Pope, as harmony itself exact..Gave Virtue and Morality a grace. 1848 M. Arnold Poems 1877 I. 26, I..Am the exacter labourer. 1849 Grote Greece ii. xlvii. (1862) IV. 144 The poorer citizens..were more exact in obedience and discipline. |
6. Of ideas, images, representations, expressions, descriptions, resemblances, etc.: Perfectly corresponding, strictly correct, precise, accurate.
| 1645 Milton Tetrach. (1851) 236 The visible and exactest figure of lonelines it selfe. 1663 Cowley Royal Society iv, Who to the Life an exact Piece would make. 1672 Wilkins Nat. Relig. 400 This book contains as the most ancient, so the most exact story of the world. 1753 Hogarth Anal. Beauty iii. 19 The exact similarity of the two halves of the face. 1782 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. i. 79 It is not easy to give an exact translation of this passage. 1796 H. Hunter tr. St. Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) III. 178 Such a one is able to form in his own mind an exact idea of order. 1816 Scott Antiq. vii, It was some time before they [shouts] were in exact response to their own. 1881 Tylor Anthropol. v. 133 Man's efforts to get easier, fuller, and exacter expression for his thoughts. |
7. a. Of a calculated result, a quantity or quantitative relation, a position, figure, date, etc.: Precise as opposed to approximate. Also with defining word: That is precisely what is designated; = ‘(the) precise’.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well iii. vi. 65 The merit of seruice is sildome attributed to the true and exact performer. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 187 The Cutting and the Pruning were perform'd in such and such an exact Minute of the Moon. 1802 Paley Nat. Theol. iii. §1. 21 The pupil, under all its different dimensions, retains its exact circular shape. 1806 Hutton Course Math. I. 205 When the given surd contains no exact power, it is already in its most simple terms. 1849 M. Somerville Connex. Phys. Sc. iv. 32 Not following the exact law of gravity. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. vii. 50 The exact appearance of a mountain of cast copper. 1861 F. Nightingale Nursing 5 The exact value of particular remedies..is by no means ascertained. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 7 At the instant of reaching its greatest height, or in other words at exact noon. a 1891 Mod. These are his exact words. A is an exact multiple of B. |
b. Calculus. exact differential, a linear differential function of two or more variables that is equal to the total differential of some function of those variables. Also exact (differential) equation (see quot. 1959).
| 1825 D. Lardner Elem. Treat. Differential & Integral Calculus ii. xvii. 284 As there are many differentials of two variables which are not exact differentials, so also there are many differential equations which are not the immediate differentials of any primitive equation. 1877 B. Williamson Differential Calculus (ed. 3) vi. 143 Condition that Pdx + Qdy shall be a total Differential.—This implies that Pdx + Qdy should be the exact differential of some function of x and y. 1920 H. T. H. Piaggio Elem. Treat. Differential Equations ii. 12 The expression ydx + xdy is an exact differential. Thus the equation ydx + xdy = o..is called an exact equation. 1958 Van Nostrand's Sci. Encycl. (ed. 3) 511/1 Suppose that an integrating factor, v exists so that vL(u)dx is an exact differential. 1959 G. & R. C. James Math. Dict. (ed. 2) 116/1 Exact differential equation, a differential equation which is obtained by setting the total differential of some function equal to zero. |
8. Of methods, instruments of research, language, etc.: Characterized by precision, not admitting of vagueness or uncertainty. exact sciences: those which admit of absolute precision in their results; esp. the mathematical sciences.
| 1665 Phil. Trans. I. 37 Having no instruments exact enough. 1681 J. Chetham Angler's Vade-m. Pref. (1689) 4 Perfect knowledge of the exactest ways of the practical part of the Art. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) II. 73 The exactest arts of building ships..were not unknown to him. 1841 Myers Cath. Th. iii. §7. 22 No spoken language has yet been found exact enough to express the highest generalisations. 1863 Fawcett Pol. Econ. i. i. 3 All who have studied an exact science must have experienced the formidable difficulties which elementary chapters invariably present. 1866 J. Martineau Ess. I. 3 The exact sciences constituted the preponderant discipline. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 26 Of the creative arts..we may make two classes—the less exact and the more exact. |
† 9. As adv. = exactly. Obs.
| 1677 Gilpin Demonol. (1867) 407 In seeming exact-suiting scripture suggested. 1692 Locke Educ. §11 Nature..works of her self a great deal better and exacter than we can direct her. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 182 Guide his Foot the firmer and exacter. 1737 Pope Hor. Epist. ii. ii. 97 There's a Rehearsal, Sir, exact at one. 1791 Cowper Yardley Oak 36 Two lobes, protruding, paired exact. |
▪ II. † eˈxact, pple. Obs. rare—1.
[? ad. L. exact-us, pa. pple. of exigĕre: see exact v.]
Drawn forth by descent, descended.
| 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. xi. lxi. (1612) 267 Of noble Parentage and rich was Mandeuil exact. |
▪ III. exact, v.
(ɛgˈzækt)
[f. L. exact- ppl. stem of exigĕre, f. ex out + agĕre to drive. The lit. sense is thus ‘to drive or force out’; hence the various derivative senses ‘to demand, require’; ‘to try, weigh accurately’; ‘to complete, bring to perfection’; with other significations not retained in the English derivative.]
1. trans. To demand and enforce the payment of (fees, money, taxes, tolls, penalties, etc.); to extort. Const. from, of, † on, † upon.
| 1529 More Supplic Soulys Wks. 308/1 The freres quarterage, which he sayd that thei exacte of euery houshold. 1531 in W. H. Turner Select Rec. Oxford 102 The Mayre..and Burgesses..exact apon them..tolls. 1548 Forrest Pleas. Poesy in Starkey's England App. 95 Too reyse his Rent alas it neadethe not or fyne texact for teanure of the same. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxviii. 164 Where a Law exacteth a Pecuniary Mulct. 1661 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 68 In it [the Patent] none of those fees or summs exacted are specifyd. 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1732) 4 They take occasion to exact from Passengers..arbitrary..Sums. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones i. vi, Flatterers..exact the same taxes on all below them which they themselves pay to all above them. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Voy. to Eng. Wks. (Bohn) II. 14 This seafaring people..exacted toll..from the ships of all other peoples. |
† b. To require or enforce the surrender of (an object). Obs.
| 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 468/2 His Books burnt..After that they had been diligently exacted of all that had any of them. |
c. loosely. To inflict (vengeance). Const. against, from.
| 1858 Froude Hist. Eng. III. xii. 3 The revenge which he would one day exact against his uncle. 1874 Green Short Hist. ii. 65 The King angrily bade him exact vengeance from the town. |
† d. With personal obj. To extort money, etc. from; to oppress with exactions. Obs.
| 1534 Act 26 Hen. VIII, c. 6. §2 The officers..unlawfully exacted the Kinges subiectes. 1597 Daniel Civ. Wares iii. lxxxix, The poor concussed state Shall ever be exacted for supplies. |
2. To require by force or with authority the performance of (duty, labour, etc.), the concession of (anything desired); to insist upon. Const. from, of; in early use sometimes with clause or inf. as obj.
| 1564 Golding tr. Justin (1570) 87 The common people..importunately exacted to haue all dettes clerely released. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 97 The courtesie which I exact of you. 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. i. v, Let my breath exact You strike sad tones unto this dismal act. 1638 R. West in Jonsonus Virb. 56 Thou exact'st our best houres industrie. 1665 Manley Grotius' Low-C. Warres 175 All the Wealth is almost in their Hands, whereof an Account is exacted. 1690 Norris Beatitudes (1694) I. 148 A Precept..too perfect to be severely exacted in that Infant Age. 1754 Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. iii. 95 Christ came to exact Obedience from every Creature. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 235 Ever since the reign of Elizabeth the oath of supremacy had been exacted from members of the House of Commons. 1863 F. A. Kemble Resid. Georgia 39 Labor exacted with stripes. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xvii. 91 William exacted strict attendance at divine service from all his company. |
3. Of circumstances, conditions, dignities, etc.: To render becoming, desirable, necessary, or unavoidable; to call for, demand, require. Const. from, of, rarely with direct personal obj. and inf.
| 1592 West Symbol. §56. C ij b, Then followeth the drawing of such Instruments in forme..as the qualitie of the fact or contract exacteth. 1601 Bp. Barlow Serm. Paules Crosse 27 The crowne exacteth of us reuerence. 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. ii. ii, Our state exactes, Our subjects not alone to beare, but praise our acts. 1672 Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Rehearsal (1714) 47 The place you fill, has more than amply exacted the Tallents of a wary Pilot. 1680 Boyle Scept. Chem. v. 289, I must withhold my Beleef..till their Experiments exact it. 1683 D. A. Art Converse 18 Their gray hairs exact of us a particular respect. 1853 C. Brontë Villette xxx. (1876) 344 No form of friendship under the sun had a right to exact such a concession. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. I. xxxi. 423 The scurvy exacts a comfortable temperature and a drying one. |
† 4. intr. To practise exactions, impose contributions. Const. on, upon. Also in indirect pass.
| c 1591 in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 78 Gevinge to the nobilitie..vnjuste..libertie to exact on the baser sorte of people. 1611 Bible Ps. lxxxix. 22 The enemie shall not exact vpon him. a 1619 Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. (1621) 35 He was again informed..how he exacted upon the Normans. 1679 in Gutch Coll. Cur. I. 276 Others were exacted upon in what they bought. 1687 Burnet Trav. ii. (1750) 86 Innkeepers think they have a right to exact upon Strangers. 1727 Swift Modest Prop. Wks. 1755 II. ii. 67 To cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure, and the goodness. |
5. trans. In etymological sense: To force out, extract. arch.
| 1639 Fuller Holy War ii. xliv. (1647) 103 It passeth my Chymistrie to exact any agreement herein out of the contrariety of writers. 1674 Govt. Tongue vi. §23. 130 We do like witches with their magical chymistry, exact all the venom. 1883 R. Bridges Prometheus (1884) 6 He next withdrew The seeds of fire that else had still lain hid In..the blue flakes of flint For man to exact and use. |
6. In various occasional uses: † a. To interpret rigorously (obs.). † b. To render exact, finish, perfect (obs.). c. nonce-use (after L. exigere). To produce (a work of art).
| 1646 J. Gregory Notes & Obs. (1650) 27 This [Matt. ii. 12] is a strange Phrase, if it should be exacted by our manner of expressing. 1669 Barrow in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) II. 67, I have tore out some leaves..which I shall send you somewhat more exacted. 1870 Ruskin Lect. Art iii. (1875) 70, I think the ‘Dunciad’ is the most absolutely chiselled and monumental work ‘exacted’ in our country. |
7. Law. (See quots.)
| 1607 J. Cowell Interpr. s.v. Exigent, This writ..seemeth to be called an Exigent because it exacteth the party, that is, requireth his expearance or forthcomming, to answer the lawe. 1769 Blackstone Comm. III. 283 A writ of exigent or exigi facias..which requires the sheriff to cause the defendant to be proclaimed, required, or exacted, in five county courts successively, to render himself;..if he does not appear, he shall then be outlawed. |
| transf. 1858 Hogg Life Shelley I. 289 Shelley..ought to have been exacted five times..before the outrageous sentence of outlawry was passed against him. |