execute

From Old French executer (French exécuter), from Latin exsecutus, past participle of exsequor (“to follow (up/through)”, particularly in the sense “to go through with a deed or punishment”), from ex- (“out”) + sequor (“to follow”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ex‧e‧cute

execute (third-person singular simple present executes, present participle executing, simple past and past participle executed)

1. (transitive) To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.

   Coordinate term: murder

   There are certain states where it is lawful to execute prisoners convicted of certain crimes.

   According to international treaties, it is illegal to execute prisoners of war.

   • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 104, column 1:

     Was not thy Father, Richard, Earle of Cambridge, / For Treaſon executed in our late Kings dayes?

2. (transitive) To carry out; to put into effect.

   Your orders have been executed, sir!

   I'll execute your orders as soon as this meeting is adjourned.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. , London: [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker ; nd by Robert Boulter ; nd Matthias Walker, , →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: , London: Basil Montagu Pickering , 1873, →OCLC:

     Why delays / His hand to execute what his decree / Fixed on this day?

3. (transitive) To perform.

   to execute a difficult piece of music brilliantly

   to execute a turn in ballet

4. (transitive, law) To carry out, to perform an act; to put into effect or cause to become legally binding or valid (as a contract) by so doing.

   to execute a contract

5. (transitive, computing) To start, launch, or run.

   Synonyms: start, launch, run, open

   to execute a program

6. (intransitive, computing) To run, usually successfully.

   The program executed, but data problems were discovered.

• See also Thesaurus:kill

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ek.seˈkuː.te/,
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ek.seˈku.te/,

execūte

1. vocative masculine singular of execūtus

execute

1. inflection of executar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative

execute

1. inflection of executar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative