execution
(ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃən)
Forms: 4 execucoun, 4–6 execucion, -cioun, -cyon, 4–7 -sio(u)n, -syon, 5 excecussyon, 6 executyon, excecucione, (exicucyon), Sc. exsecutione, (7 exequition), 6– execution.
[ME. execucion, a. AF. execucioun, F. exécution, ad. L. execūtiōn-em, exsecūtiōn-em, n. of action f. ex(s)equī: see execute v.]
The action of executing; the state or fact of being executed.
1. The action of carrying into effect (a plan, design, purpose, command, decree, task, etc.); accomplishment: an instance of this. Also, to carry, † order, put in execution or into execution.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 472 He..Had every thing..put in Execucion. 1388 Wyclif 1 Esdras vi. 13 [vii. 1] Therfor Tathannai..and hise counseleris, diden execucioun..bi that that kyng Darius hadde comaundid. 1494 Fabyan Chron. i. i. 7 In all olde Storyes..is nat founde..that any suche Storye..was put in execucion. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. iii. 36, I like thy counsaile..and..how well I like it, The execution of it shall make knowne. 1651 Nicholas Papers (Camden) 259 He beggs me to further the execusion of the Kings comission. 1707 Freind Peterborow's Cond. Sp. 208 To such extraordinary Thoughts, and such diligent executions, were owing all our successes in Spain. 1772 Johnson Let. Mrs. Thrale 29 Oct., His intention and execution are not very near each other. 1810 Wellington in Gurw. Disp. V. 507 The mode in which directions given to the Portuguese authorities are carried into execution. 1863 Fr. A Kemble Resid. Georgia 109, I..determined to put into execution a plan I had formed. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 11 There are..eras of counsel and eras of execution. |
† b. The giving practical effect to (a passion, sentiment, or principle); exercise (of powers); manifestation in act (
rarely, in speech).
Obs.| 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 780 Workes..are rather the executions and the ministring of righteousnesse. 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. (1594) 17 He may..represse them [his wicked inclinations]..that they breake not out into any damnable execution. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. ii. 111 Scarse I can refraine The execution of my big-swolne heart Vpon that Clifford. 1604 ― Oth. iii. iii. 466. 1606 ― Tr. & Cr. i. iii. 210. 1622 R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea (1847) 208 Griefe and rage..caused me to breake forth into this reprehension and execution following—‘Great is the crosse’ [etc.]. 1652 Benlowes Theoph. Pref. 21 My redemption from the execution of thy wrath. |
c. The executing or carrying into effect (a law, agreement, writ, sentence, etc.).
Cf. 7, 8.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 37 Bynde men to here wickid lawis & wrong execucions of hem. 1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII, c. 10 Fynes..levyed for the execucion and performaunce of the said Indentures. 1591 Lambarde Archeion (1635) 209 The Writ came so late to his hands, that he could not..make execution of it. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxi. 109 To cause those laws to be put in execution. 1710 Prideaux Orig. Tithes ii. 54 We have God's Precedent in the Execution of that Law to guide us. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xxviii, The coward is determined to put the law in execution against me. 1803 Wellington in Gurw. Disp. I. 492 The sentence on this sepoy should be carried into execution. 1845 M{supc}Culloch Taxation ii. iv. (1852) 185 Commissioners have been appointed to carry the act into execution. |
2. The effecting or carrying out (a prescribed or designed operation or movement); the production (of a work of art or skill); the vocal or instrumental rendering (of a musical composition); in early use,
† the performance (of rites or ceremonies). Hence often, The manner in which an operation, work, piece of music, is ‘executed’.
| c 1534 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden) I. 166 After the execution of divine service. a 1700 Dryden (J.), The excellency of the subject contributed much to the happiness of the execution. 1713 Guardian No. 1 ¶3 This gentleman is, as to the execution of his work, a Mechanick. 1751 C. Labelye Westm. Br. 16 The two largest Piers were ordered into Execution, of solid Portland Stone. 1751 Chambers Cycl., Execution is particularly used in French music, for the manner of singing. 1768 Gilpin Ess. Prints 85 His [Rembrandt's] execution is peculiar to himself. It is rough or neat, as he meant a scetch or a finished piece. 1855 Prescott Philip II, ii. iv. (1857) 243 A new palace..presenting in the beauty..of its execution one of the noblest monuments of the architecture of the eighteenth century. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 62/1 The execution of the requisite tools and machinery. |
† b. An instance of the same; a performance.
| 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxix. (1887) 191 How it may..be helpt..I will hereafter in my priuate executions declare. a 1628 Preston Breastpl. Love (1631) 125 Look to your actions, to your doings, to your executions and performances. 1728 R. Morris Ess. Anc. Archit. 89 Those Executions, which are perform'd conformable to the Practice of the Ancients. Ibid. 94 Our Moderns, whose Executions are generally standing Monuments to their Shame. |
c. Excellence of execution;
esp. in the performance of music, mastery of the processes by which the required artistic effect must be produced.
| 1795 Mason Ch. Mus. ii. 137 The term Execution is generally applied to that volubility of throat which expresses accurately such divisions. 1807 Jas. Johnson Orient. Voy. 54 Most of them are taught music..and some have acquired a tolerable degree of execution. 1824 Byron Juan xvi. xli, The circle..applauds..The lines, the feeling, and the execution. 1842–76 Gwilt Archit. 176 They [statues] were not equal in execution to those of France. 1854 E. Bradley (C. Bede) Verd. Green ii. ix, A firework piece of Music, in which execution takes the place of melody. |
3. The performance or fulfilment (of an office or function).
to put in execution: to execute.
| 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. Q iv, Before, the sense of seeing was delighted..now the sense of feeling beginnes to put in execution his office. 1605 Shakes. Lear i. i. 139 The Sway, Reuennew..Execution of the rest..be yours. 1631 Gouge God's Arrows iv. §15. 401 Papists..are by law interdicted the execution of ministeriall functions. 1836 Marryat Midsh. Easy xli, You will have no obstruction from us in the execution of your duty. 1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. I. iv. i. 344 He gave himself up to..the due execution of his high duties. |
† b. Action, operation.
Obs.| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 49 b, Whiche yf he had not tasted and put in execucyon, he sholde neuer haue dyed. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 212 Like the Dodoes wings, more to looke at, then for execution. 1684 Scanderbeg Rediv. v. 116 The King had not with him above 4000 men..and of those scarce 1500 came up to Execution. 1729 G. Shelvocke Artillery iv. 295 The best Opportunity you can have for putting these [Poisonous] Balls in Execution, is when the Heavens are clouded over. |
† 4. Efficiency in action, executive ability.
Obs.| 1549 Compl. Scot. Ded. 4 Be his magnanyme proues ande martial exsecutione, he delyurit the holy land. 1600 Holland Livy xxxviii. xli. 1008 He was a man of much valour and execution. 1601 ― Pliny II. 213 Lucullus..a captain of great execution lost his life by such a loue potion. |
5. Effective action (
esp. of weapons); destructive effect, infliction of damage or slaughter. Now almost exclusively in
phr. to do execution.
| 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. ii. iii. 36 An Adder when she doth vnrowle To do some fatall execution. Ibid. iv. ii. 84. 1605 ― Macb. i. ii. 18 His brandisht Steele, Which smoak'd with bloody execution. 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons 4 b, Short..daggers are..of greater execution amongst al sorts of armed men. 1649 Selden Laws Eng. i. xiv. (1739) 26 Though the Canons roar loud, yet the execution is not mortal. a 1672 Wood Life (1848) 26 The two gallant majors charged the rebells up thro the street, doing execution al the way. 1828 G. W. Bridges Ann. Jamaica II. xviii. 342 The most cruel execution is usually inflicted..on the backs of a..flying enemy. 1855 Prescott Philip II, i. viii. (1857) 137 The shot, probably from the distance of the ships, did no great execution. |
| concr. 1581 Styward Mart. Discipl. i. 45 The heart of the battaile, vsuallie called the slaughter of the field, or execution of the same. |
b. fig. of the effect of arguments, personal charms, etc.
| 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. 683 Certain metaphysical arguments for a Deity..can do but little execution upon the minds of the generality. 1707 Farquhar Beaux Strat. ii. ii, You are so well dress'd..that I fancy you may do Execution in a Country church. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. i, Sophia's features were not so striking at first, but often did more certain execution. 1840 Thackeray Paris Sk.-bk., Beatrice Merger 1 Black eyes, which might have done some execution had they been placed in a smoother face. |
6. Law. The due performance of all formalities, as signing, sealing, etc., necessary to give validity to a deed or other legal document.
| 1776 Trial Nundocomar 17/1 Is the name..at the bottom of the paper, written as a witness to the execution? 1848 Wharton Law Lex., Execution of Deeds, the signing, sealing, and delivery of them by the parties, as their own acts and deeds. 1891 Law Times XC. 462/2 One of Wayman's clerks attested Mrs. Headley's execution of the deed. |
7. The enforcement by the sheriff, or other officer, of the judgement of a court; ‘the obtaining of actual possession of anything acquired by judgement of law’ (Coke
On Litt. (1628) 154 a); chiefly, the seizure of the goods or person of a debtor in default of payment. Also in phrases,
(to have) for execution,
(to be, take) in execution,
to sue, take (forth) execution.
writ of execution, or simply
execution: the process under which the sheriff or other officer is commanded to execute a judgement.
to return an execution: to report the service of the writ. So
return of execution.
| [1292 Britton i. i. §5 A fere nos commaundementz..et les execuciouns de nos jugementz.] 1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 36 §1 It [shall] be lawefull..to sue execucion..ayenst the seid sir Edward..by write or wryttes of Elegit. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §157, I doo..haue theyr bodyes in prisone for execution, tylle they haue made me payment. 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 128/1 No action or sute taking effect..except also executions in law, awarded..before the beginning of the parlement. 1592 West 1st Pt. Symbol. §104 B, When he shall thinke it most to him conuenient to sue forth execution upon the said statute marchant. 1597 Warner Alb. Eng. x. lvi, The Writ of Execution, that her Heading did purport. 1632 Massinger & Field Fatal Dowry i. ii, Let our executions That lie upon the father be returned Upon the son. 1632 Star Chamb. Cases (Camden) 128 Did afterwardes take forth execution against the defendant..and the partie was in execution. 1670 Moral State Eng. 30 By the next Term is presented with an Execution, from his Taylor, or Landlord. 1697 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 315 Two bailifs endeavouring to enter a house..upon an execution. 1725 Lond. Gaz. No. 6404/7 A Prisoner in Execution at Ruthyn Gaol. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 447 Unless..the writ of execution is actually delivered to the sheriff. 1807 J. Marshall Const. Opin. (1839) 37 One court never awards execution on the judgment of another. 1817 Selwyn Law Nisi Prius II. 722 It may be prudent..to be prepared with an examined copy of the writ of possession and return of execution. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) I. vi. 302 A member having been taken in execution on a private debt before their [Parliament's] meeting. 1875 Poste Gaius iii. (ed. 2) 342 The English process in an ordinary execution is, etc. |
b. Hence, in popular language: The actual levy or seizure of goods by a sheriff's officer.
| 1777 Sheridan Sch. Scand. i. i, I am told he has had another execution in the house yesterday. 1840 Hood Up the Rhine 233 A..squalid, comfortless room, hardly furnished enough to invite an execution. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis xix, Coming..with a piteous tale that.. there was an execution in their house. |
c. Scots Law (see
quot.).
| 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process 93 The Letters, with the Executions against the Prisoner. Ibid. 130 The Executor returns his Executions against the Criminals in the following manner. 1861 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot., Execution by a Messenger-at-Arms or other officer of the Law..is an attestation under the hand of the messenger [etc.] that he has given the citation, or executed the diligence, in terms of his warrant for so doing. |
¶ d. An alleged designation for a company of officers.
Obs.—0| 1486 Bk. St. Albans F vij a, An Execution of Officerys. |
8. The infliction of punishment in pursuance of a judicial sentence; an instance of this. (In legal use also more fully
criminal execution.)
a. gen. (but chiefly with reference to corporal penalties).
| c 1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 20 Medele þou merci with execusioun. 1563 Homilies ii. Wilful Rebel. iii. (1859) 575 Let us..fear the dreadful execution of God. 1640 W. Prynne Petit. in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. I. 76 The small Remainder of his Ears, left after his first Execution. a 1656 Bp. Hall Occas. Medit. (1851) 105 Let others rejoice, in these public executions. 1827 A. Fonblanque Eng. under 7 Administr. (1837) I. 81 In..military executions, a medical man stands by and sees what the sufferer under the scourge can bear. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. (ed. 3) I. 489 After the execution Dangerfield..was taken back to prison. |
b. spec. The infliction of capital punishment; the putting (a person) to death in pursuance of a judicial or authoritative sentence. Also called
† execution of death.
| c 1360 Song of Mercy 37 in E.E.P. (1862) 119 Riht wolde sle vs. for vr sunne. Miht wol don execucion. 1471 Duke of Clarence in 12th Rep. Comm. Hist. MSS. App. iv. I. 4 Edmund late Duc of Somerset taken and put to execucion. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xvi. 366 Maye ye doo execusion vpon hym. 1494 Fabyan Chron. ii. xxxvii. 27 To be put to dethe..by heddyng, fleyng, brennynge, and other Cruel Execucions. 1517 R. Torkington Pilgr. (1884) 69 To be put to execucion of Dethe by and bye. 1536 Sir W. Kingston in Ellis Orig. Lett. i. 122 II. 63, I have told my lord of Rocheford that he be in aredynes to morow to suffur execusyon. 1556 Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden) 25 Thys yere the commons of Cornwall arose..The captayns tane and put to excecucione. 1605 Shakes. Macb. i. iv. 1 Is execution done on Cawdor? 1631 Gouge God's Arrows iv. viii. 385 Disgrace, Torture, Execution of death..and other externall crosses like unto these. 1680 H. Dodwell 2 Lett. of Advice (1691) 39 The stakes and gridirons, and other the most terrible executions. 1727 Swift Gulliver ii. v. 137 To see an execution..of a man who had murdered. 1880 McCarthy Own Times IV. liii. 147 The execution of these men did not even tend to prevent crime. |
9. ‘The ravaging and destroying of a country that refuses to pay contribution’ (Smyth
Sailor's Word-bk. 1867). Also
military execution. [After
Fr. exécution.]
| 1618 Fletcher Loyal Subj. v. vi, You know his marches, You have seen his executions. Is it yet peace? 1689 Lond. Gaz. No. 2423/3 To put the Dutchies.. under Military Execution, in case they do not pay, etc. |
10. attrib. and
Comb. (chiefly in sense 8), as
execution man,
execution Monday,
execution part,
execution place, etc.;
execution-day (see
quot.);
Execution-Dock, the dock (at Wapping) where criminal sailors were executed.
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, *Execution-day, Washing-day. |
| 1694 Luttrell Brief Rel. 1 Mar. (1857) III. 277 Some of the persons convicted lately for pyracy will be hanged at *Execution Dock on Saturday next. 1883 Stevenson Treasure Isl. xxix. (1886) 211 It..looks mighty like a hornpipe in a rope's end at Execution Dock by London town. |
| c 1575 Cambyses in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 200 Good *execution-man, for need Help me with him away. 1891 W. J. Loftie Lond. City 125 A Sunday always elapsed between ‘Trial Friday’ and ‘*Execution Monday’. |
| 1710 Norris Chr. Prud. ii. 96 Policy agrees with Prudence, as to the *Execution part, the use of fit or effectual means. |
| 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. Wks. 1883–4 V. 168 To the *execution place was he brought. |
Hence
exeˈcution v. Obs.,
= execute v. 6.
| 1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. Ch. Eng. 18 The executioner..desired..that he might be executioned, ether for him or with him. |