English
execution
Execution comes from Latin exsecutiō ‘performance, execution’, and goes back to exsequor ‘to follow out’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsequor‘to follow out’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsecutiō‘performance, execution’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400execution
- Englishearliest quotation 1792same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsequor‘to follow out’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsecutiō‘performance, execution’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400execution
- Englishearliest quotation 1792same form
Earliest quotation: 1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond: “There are two executions in the house, one for…”
A compound of ex ‘out’ + sequor ‘follow’
Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs ‘out’
Proto-Italic *eks
Latin ex ‘out’
Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- ‘to follow’
Proto-Indo-European *sékʷetor ‘to be following’
Proto-Italic *sekʷōr ‘to follow, come/go after’
Latin sequor ‘follow’
Every English word from Latin exsequor
Today it means
noun The act, manner or style of executing (actions, maneuvers, performances).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin exsequor / execution