English
execute
Execute comes from Latin exsecutus ‘having executed, accomplished’, from sequor ‘to follow’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sekʷ-‘to follow’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sékʷetor‘to be following’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sekʷōr‘to follow, come/go after’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsequor‘to follow’next step skipped: Latin exsequor
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsecutus‘having executed, accomplished’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400executer
- Englishearliest quotation 1591execute
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sekʷ-‘to follow’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sékʷetor‘to be following’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sekʷōr‘to follow, come/go after’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsequor‘to follow’next step skipped: Latin exsequor
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsecutus‘having executed, accomplished’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400executer
- Englishearliest quotation 1591execute
Earliest quotation: 1591, William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry the Sixt: “Was not thy Father, Richard, Earle of Cambridge, /…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- ‘to follow’
see, say, social, second, saw, society, sight, subsequent, sue, associate, consequence, consequently, suite, saga, intrinsic, sequential, sequestration, dissociation, extrinsic, seg, sequester, dissociate, 32 more
through Proto-Italic *sekʷōr ‘to follow, come/go after’
through Latin sequor ‘to follow’
suit, sequence, pursue, sequel, consecutive, prosecution, sect, persecution, consequent, ensue, segue, sequitur, persecute, 19 more
Today it means
verb To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- / execute