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, 71. Yet durste they at noo tyme execute theyr lordes commaundamente.
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. Ht. 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. B 4. Iudgement 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. Shaks., 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), I. 5/1. After his return, he [Villiers] executed the same authority in conferring all favours and graces, 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 & execate þe 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. trans. 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, II. III. iii. 45. The Kings of this Country have been 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, IV. VI. ii. 79. 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.
c. 1450. Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 6. Who shall execute ye 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. Ibid. (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 euermore good and indyfferent iustyce to euery one of his creatures.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., xxviii. (1627), 286. Sometimes … iustice cannot be executed, nor any gouernment 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 regular 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 sb. 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 (1636), 55, note. A use may be created, & 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, Edw. VI. (1630), 74 (J.). The cannon against S. Stephens gate executed so well, that in short time 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. H. 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 (ed. 2), 137. Etchings … executed in a bold and masterly manner.
1778. Hist. 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. B’ness Bunsen, in Hare, Life, I. vi. 192. I saw executed in marble the Mercury and the Hope. Ibid. (1826), II. vii. 259. An oratorio which he has this winter composed, but which has never yet been executed.
1839. Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Ch., vii. (1847), 75. Egbert … executed a Saxon version of the four Gospels.
absol. 1768. W. Gilpin, Ess. Prints (ed. 2), 30. Every artist is in some degree a mannerist: that is, he 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 (1632), 514. Divers of their chieftains have beene executed to death.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., Pref. (1690), 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. G. P. R. 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, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr., 68 b/2. When death hathe done his office, executing all earthelye men.]
1593. Shaks., 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.
