Etymograph

English

executive

Executive is borrowed from Middle French executif, from Latin executivus, from exsequor ‘to follow out, execute’ (ex- + sequor).

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsequor‘to follow’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsequor‘to follow out, execute’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexecutivus
  4. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600executif
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1787executive

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsequor‘to follow’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsequor‘to follow out, execute’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexecutivus
  4. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600executif
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1787executive

Earliest quotation: 1787, Federal Convention of 1787, Constitution of the United States of America: “When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State,…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- ‘to follow’

see, say, second, social, saw, society, suit, sight, associate, subsequent, sequence, pursue, sue, sequel, consequently, saga, prosecution, intrinsic, consecutive, sect, persecution, sequential, consequent, ensue, sequestration, dissociation, segue, sequester, extrinsic, dissociate, seg, persecute, sequitur, 36 more

Today it means

adj Designed or fitted for execution, or carrying into effect.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin sequor / executive

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