executor
(ɛkˈs-, ɛgˈzɛkjʊtə(r) in sense 3; ˈɛksəkjʊtə(r) in sense 1)
Forms: 3–4 executur(e, esecutor, (4 exceketour), 4–5 excecuto(u)r, 4–6 exequitour, -quutor, 4–7 executour, 6 exectour, 4– executor. See also secutor.
[a. AF. executour, a. L. ex(s)ecūtōr-em, agent-n. from exsequī to execute.]
1. One who executes or carries out (a purpose, design, command, work, etc.); one who carries into action, or puts into practice (some quality); a conductor or manager (of affairs); an administrator or enforcer of (a law, vengeance, etc.); an agent, doer, performer, executer; in Scots Law, one who serves a writ or executes a warrant. Now rare exc. in legal uses: see executer.
| 1388 Wyclif 1 Esdras v. 58 Executours [1382 foleweris out], or folewers, of the lawe. 1483 Cath. Angl. 119 An Executor, executor. 1563 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 113/2 Ioseph an excellent doctor and executor of chastitie..and other vertues. 1567 Throgmorton in Robertson Hist. Scot. (1759) II. App. 45 The said Earl [Bothwell] was one of the principal executors of the murder [of Darnley]. 1610 Shakes. Temp. iii. i. 13 Such basenes Had neuer like Executor. 1662 Petty Taxes 63 When the executors of them [penal laws] keep them hid until a fault be done. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton xiv. (1840) 242 The executor of his own vengeance. 1726 Leoni tr. Alberti's Archit., Life 5 His Assistant and the faithful Executor of his designs. 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process 83 So soon as the Letters are execute against the Criminal..the Executor is to apprehend and imprison him. 1864 Realm 11 May 1 Ordinary exhibitions result only in the advantage of the shopkeeper; the designer and executor being studiously ignored. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. §811 (ed. 2) III. 588 His [the mayor's] functions as receiver and executor of writs devolved on the sheriffs of the newly constituted shire. |
b. One who performs the duties, etc. (of an office, service, ceremony, etc.).
| c 1450 Pol., Rel. & L. Poems 7 Executor of this office, dirge for to synge, Shall begynne y⊇ bisshope of seynt as [Asaph]. 1548 Gest Pr. Masse 106 Bee not also the ful Executors of the same justly named sacryfycers? 1558 Forrest Grysilde Sec. 96 He was, emonges other thynges all, The Executor of her Funerall. 1560 in Strype Ann. Ref. I. xvii. 214 The ministers receiving the Communion at the hands of the executor. 1841 Myers Cath. Th. iv. §26. 304 The Priests were simply sacrificers and executors of ceremonial. |
† 2. = executioner. Obs.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vi. clxxxvi. 186 After whiche sentence..Hebert was by the executours..moste shamefully hanged. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, i. ii. 203 The sad-ey'd Iustice..Deliuering ore to Executors pale The lazie yawning Drone. 1614 Bp. Hall Contempl. O.T. iv. iv, How much rather had they [the Egyptians] to send them [the Israelites] away wealthy, than to have them stay to be their executors. |
† b. One who or that which gives effect to (a passion). Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Sompn. T. 302 Ire engendrith homiside; Ire is in soth executour of pride. |
3. A person appointed by a testator to execute or carry into effect his will after his decease. literary executor: one who is entrusted with the care of the papers and unpublished works of a literary man.
| c 1280 E.E.P. 19 Þe deuil is his executur, of is gold an is tresure. 1340 Ayenb. 38 Kueade exequitours of bekuydes. c 1440 Gesta Rom. ii. liii. 372 (Add. MS.) Lordes, or othere rauenours that ben Eyres ande excecutores. 1558 in Vicary's Anat. App. v. (1888) 185 The said Thomas Dunkyn, his heyrs, executors, admynystrators or assignes. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. (1843) 22/2 His grandfather had been..left by King Harry the Eighth one of the executours of his last will. 1771 Brown in Gray's Corr. (1843) 163 No discharge..against any claims which his executors might make. 1858 Ld. St. Leonards Handy Bk. Prop. Law xviii. 141 Creditors or executors may prove a will to which they are attesting witnesses. 1868 G. Duff Pol. Surv. 105 Mr. Senior's conversations..which we trust his literary executor will soon publish. |
b. in various legal phrases (see quots.).
| 1670 Blount Law Dict., Executor de son tort, Or of his own wrong, is he that takes upon him the Office of an Executor by intrusion, not being so constituted by the Testator. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 507 If a stranger takes upon him to act as executor, without any just authority..he is called in law an executor of his own wrong, de son tort, and is liable to all the trouble of an executorship, without any of the profits or advantages. 1861 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 214/2 Confirmation of Executor, is the form in which a title is conferred on the executor of a person deceased, to..administer the defunct's moveable effects [etc.]. Ibid. 358/1 The office of executor is conferred either by the written nomination of the defunct, or, failing that, by decree of the commissary; the executor, in the former case, being called an executor-nominate, and, in the latter, an executor-dative. Ibid. 362/1 Any creditor of the deceased holding a liquid ground of debt may obtain himself confirmed executor-creditor. |
c. transf. and fig.
| 1580 Sidney Sidera xiii. in Arcadia (1622) 501 His death⁓bed peacocks folly..His sole exectour blame. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. iv, Thy unused beauty must be tomb'd with thee, Which, used, lives th' executor to be. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 177 He destroyeth them..and so maketh himself executor to their heaps of hony. 1645 Bp. Hall Remed. Discontents 23 His greatnesse..is dead..before him, and leaves him the surviving executour of his own shame. |