execution
noun/ˌɛk.sɪˈkjuː.ʃən/
Etymology From Old French execution (c.1360), from Latin exsecutiō, an agent noun from exsequor (“to follow out”), from ex (“out”) + sequor (“follow”). Equivalent to execute + -ion.
7 senses
- 1The act, manner or style of executing (actions…
- 2The state of being accomplished.
- 3The act of putting to death or being put to death as a…
- 4The carrying into effect of a court judgment, or of a will.
- 5Specifically, the seizure of a debtor's goods or…
- 6The formal process by which a contract is made valid and…
- 7The carrying out of an instruction, program or program…
The act, manner or style of executing (actions, maneuvers, performances).
- Already the poor man saw himself crowned by the might of his arm Emperor of Trebizond at least; and so, led away by the intense enjoyment he found in these pleasant fancies, he set himself forthwith to put his scheme into execution.1885, John Ormsby, chapter 1, in Don Quixoteᵂⁱᵏⁱˢᵒᵘʳᶜᵉ, volume 1, translation of original by Miguel de Cervantes:
The state of being accomplished.
- The mission's successful execution lifted the troops' morale.
The act of putting to death or being put to death as a penalty, or actions so associated.
- Efforts to unionize were routinely met with clubbings, shootings, jailings, blacklistings and executions, perpetrated not only by well-armed legions of company goons, but also by police officers, deputies, National Guardsmen and even regular soldiers.2009 February 22, Kevin Baker, “Blood on the Street”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 25 Jan 2021:
Law The carrying into effect of a court judgment, or of a will.
Archaic Specifically, the seizure of a debtor's goods or property in default of payment.
- There are two executions in the house, one for sixteen hundred, the other for two thousand three hundred pounds.1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview, published 2001, page 166:
Law The formal process by which a contract is made valid and put into binding effect.
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences The carrying out of an instruction, program or program segment by a computer.
- The entire machine slowed down during the execution of the virus checker.
- Synonyms
- pursuance
- Derived terms
- executional, executionary, execution cycle, executionism, executionist, execution-style, execution time, execution unit, inexecution, malexecution, misexecution, nonexecution, postexecution, posthumous execution, summary execution, unexecution, writ of execution
- Related terms
- execute, executioner, executive, executor
- Hyponyms
- crucifixion, electrocution, hanging, lethal injection