Execute

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ex=e=cute

CIDE DICTIONARY

Execute, v. t. [F. exécuter, L. executus, exsecutus, p. p. of exequi to follow to the end, pursue; ex out + sequi to follow. See Second, Sue to follow up, and cf. Exequy.].

•  To follow out or through to the end; to carry out into complete effect; to complete; to finish; to effect; to perform.  [1913 Webster]

  "Why delays
  His hand to execute what his decree
  Fixed on this day?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To complete, as a legal instrument; to perform what is required to give validity to, as by signing and perhaps sealing and delivering; as, to execute a deed, lease, mortgage, will, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  To give effect to; to do what is provided or required by; to perform the requirements or stipulations of; as, to execute a decree, judgment, writ, or process.  [1913 Webster]
•  To infect capital punishment on; to put to death in conformity to a legal sentence; as, to execute a traitor.  [1913 Webster]
•  To put to death illegally; to kill.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To perform, as a piece of music or other feat of skill, whether on an instrument or with the voice, or in any other manner requiring physical activity; as, to execute a difficult part brilliantly; to execute a coup; to execute a double play.

Syn. -- To accomplish; effect; fulfill; achieve; consummate; finish; complete. See Accomplish.

Execute, v. i. 

•  To do one's work; to act one's part or purpose.  Hayward.  [1913 Webster]
•  To perform musically.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Execute, v.tr.
1 a carry out a sentence of death on (a condemned person). b kill as a political act.
2 carry into effect, perform (a plan, duty, command, operation, etc.).
3 a carry out a design for (a product of art or skill). b perform (a musical composition, dance, etc.).
4 make (a legal instrument) valid by signing, sealing, etc.
5 put into effect (a judicial sentence, the terms of a will, etc.).

Derivative

executable adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF executer f. med.L executare f. L exsequi exsecut- (as EX-(1), sequi follow)

THESAURUS

Execute

abide by, accompany, accomplish, achieve, act, adhere to, administer, administrate, annihilate, assassinate, attain, be productive, behead, bereave of life, bowstring, bring about, bring into being, bring off, bring to fruition, bump off, burn, butcher, carry away, carry into execution, carry off, carry out, carry through, cause, chloroform, chord, compass, complete, concertize, conduct, consummate, cool, cope with, countersign, crucify, cut, cut down, cut off, deal with, decapitate, decollate, defenestrate, deliver, deprive of life, destroy, discharge, dispatch, dispose of, do, do away with, do for, do in, do the job, do the trick, do to death, dust off, effect, effectuate, electrocute, eliminate, enact, end, enforce, engineer, exterminate, fetch, fill out, finish, finish off, fulfill, garrote, govern, guillotine, handle, honor, ice, immolate, implement, industrialize, inflict capital punishment, interpret, kill, knock off, lapidate, launch into eternity, liquidate, lynch, make, make away with, make music, make out, manage, martyr, martyrize, mass-produce, murder, observe, overproduce, perform, play, play by ear, poison, polish off, practice, produce, promulgate, prosecute, pull off, purge, put away, put down, put in force, put over, put through, put to death, put to sleep, realize, remove, remove from life, render, rub out, sacrifice, seal, shoot, sign, slay, snuff out, starve, stone, strangle, succeed, swing, symphonize, take care of, take life, take off, transact, turn the trick, validate, volume-produce, waste, wipe out, work, work out

ROGET THESAURUS

Execute

Action

VB do, perform, execute, achieve, transact, enact, commit, perpetrate, inflict, exercise, prosecute, carry on, work, practice, play, employ oneself, ply one's task, officiate, have in hand, labor, be at work, pursue a course, shape one's course, act, operate, take action, take steps, strike a blow, lift a finger, stretch forth one's hand, take in hand, put oneself in motion, put in practice, carry into execution, act upon, be an actor, take a part in, act a part in, play a part in, perform a part in, participate in, have a hand in, have a finger in the pie, have to do with, be a party to, be a participator in, bear a hand, lend a hand, pull an oar, run in a race, mix oneself up with, be in action, come into operation.

Conduct

VB transact, execute, despatch, dispatch, proceed with, discharge, carry on, carry through, carry out, carry into effect, put into effect, work out, go through, get through, enact, put into practice, do, officiate, bear oneself, behave oneself, comport oneself, demean oneself, carry oneself, conduct oneself, acquit oneself, run a race, lead a life, play a game, take a course, adopt a course, steer one's course, shape one's course, play one's paint, play one's cards, shift for oneself, paddle one's own canoe, bail one's own boat, conduct, manage, supervise, participate, deal with, have to do with, treat, handle a case, take steps, take measures.

Completion

VB effect, effectuate, accomplish, achieve, compass, consummate, hammer out, bring to maturity, bring to perfection, perfect, complete, elaborate, do, execute, make, go through, get through, work out, enact, bring about, bring to bear, bring to pass, bring through, bring to a head, despatch, dispatch, knock off, finish off, polish off, make short work of, dispose of, set at rest, perform, discharge, fulfill, realize, put in practice, put in force, carry out, carry into effect, carry into execution, make good, be as good as one's word, do thoroughly, not do by halves, go the whole hog, drive home, be in at the death, carry through, play out, exhaust, fill the bill, finish, bring to a close, wind up, stamp, clinch, seal, set the seal on, put the seal, give the final touch, to, put the last, put the finishing hand to, put the finishing touches on, crown, crown all, cap, ripen, culminate, come to a head, come to a crisis, come to its end, die a natural death, die of old age, run its course, run one's race, touch the goal, reach the goal, attain the goal, reach, get in the harvest.

Security

VB give security, give bail, give substantial bail, go bail, pawn, impawn, spout, mortgage, hypothecate, impignorate, guarantee, warrant, warrantee, assure, accept, indorse, underwrite, insure, cosign, countersign, sponsor, cosponsor, execute, stamp, sign, seal, let, sett, grant a lease, take a lease, hold a lease, hold in pledge, lend on security.

Observance

VB observe, comply with, respect, acknowledge, abide by, cling to, adhere to, be faithful to, act up to, meet, fulfill, carry out, carry into execution, execute, perform, keep, satisfy, discharge, do one's office, perform an obligation, fulfill an obligation, discharge an obligation, acquit oneself of an obligation, make good, make good one's word, make good one's promise, keep one's word, keep one's promise, redeem one's pledge, keep faith with, stand to one's engagement.

Punishment

VB punish, chastise, chasten, castigate, correct, inflict punishment, administer correction, deal retributive justice, cowhide, lambaste, visit upon, pay, pay out, serve out, do for, make short work of, give a lesson to, serve one right, make an example of, have a rod in pickle for, give it one, strike, deal a blow to, administer the lash, smite, slap, slap the face, smack, cuff, box the ears, spank, thwack, thump, beat, lay on, swinge, buffet, thresh, thrash, pummel, drub, leather, trounce, sandbag, baste, belabor, lace, lace one's jacket, dress, dress down, give a dressing, trim, warm, wipe, tund, cob, bang, strap, comb, lash, lick, larrup, wallop, whop, flog, scourge, whip, birch, cane, give the stick, switch, flagellate, horsewhip, bastinado, towel, rub down with an oaken towel, rib roast, dust one's jacket, fustigate, pitch into, lay about one, beat black and blue, beat to a mummy, beat to a jelly, give a black eye, tar and feather, pelt, stone, lapidate, masthead, keelhaul, execute, bring to the block, bring to the gallows, behead, decapitate, guillotine, decollate, hang, turn off, gibbet, bowstring, hang draw and quarter, shoot, decimate, burn, break on the wheel, crucify, empale, impale, flay, lynch, electrocute, gas, send to the gas chamber, torture, put on, put to the rack, picket, banish, exile, transport, expel, ostracize, rusticate, drum out, dismiss, disbar, disbench, strike off the roll, unfrock, post, suffer, suffer for, suffer punishment, be flogged, be executed, suffer the ultimate penalty, be hanged, come to the gallows, mount the gallows, swing, twist in the wind, dance upon nothing, die in one's shoes, be rightly served, be electrocuted, fry, ride the lightning, face the firing squad.

Musician

VB play, pipe, strike up, sweep the chords, tweedle, fiddle, strike the lyre, beat the drum, blow the horn, sound the horn, wind the horn, doodle, grind the organ, touch the guitar, thrum, strum, beat time, execute, perform, accompany, sing a second, play a second, compose, set to music, arrange, sing, chaunt, chant, hum, warble, carol, chirp, chirrup, lilt, purl, quaver, trill, shake, twitter, whistle, sol-fa, intone, have an ear for music, have a musical ear, have a correct ear.