English
executrix
Executrix comes from Medieval Latin execūtrīx, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- ‘to follow’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sekʷ-‘to follow’root as named
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500execūtrīx
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500executrice
- Englishearliest quotation 1562–1565executrix
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sekʷ-‘to follow’root as named
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500execūtrīx
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500executrice
- Englishearliest quotation 1562–1565executrix
Earliest quotation: 1562–1565, Thomas Smyth [i.e., Of Wiues and Mariages: “And fewe [wives] there be that be not made…”
Equivalent to execute + -trix
Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- ‘to follow’
…
Proto-Italic *sekʷōr ‘to follow, come/go after’
Latin sequor ‘to follow’
Latin exsecutus ‘having executed, accomplished’
Old French executer
English execute
The story
Exsecūtor is derived from Latin exsequor (‘to follow after thoroughly, pursue persistently; (figurative) to execute, perform; to pursue with vengeance, avenge’) (from ex- (intensifying prefix) + sequor (‘to follow, pursue’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (‘to follow’))) + -tor (suffix forming masculine agent nouns).
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, consecutive, prosecution, sect, persecution, sequential, intrinsic, consequent, ensue, dissociation, sequestration, segue, sequester, dissociate, seg, persecute, sequitur, extrinsic, 36 more
Today it means
noun A female person who executes or carries out something.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- / executrix