execution
/ˌɛk.sɪˈkjuː.ʃən/ noun
Forms executions
- noun The act, manner or style of executing (actions, maneuvers, performances).
- noun The state of being accomplished. “The mission's successful execution lifted the troops' morale.”
- noun The act of putting to death or being put to death as a penalty, or actions so associated.
- noun (law) The carrying into effect of a court judgment, or of a will.
- noun (now rare) Specifically, the seizure of a debtor's goods or property in default of payment.
- noun (law) The formal process by which a contract is made valid and put into binding effect.
- noun (computing) 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 executing capital punishment death penalty performance carrying out carrying into action instruction execution execution of instrument writ of execution implementation murder slaying
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.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of executing; a carrying into effect or to completion; performance; achievement; consummation; as, the execution of a plan, a work, etc. The excellence of the subject contributed much to the happiness of the execution. Dryden.
- noun A putting to death as a legal penalty; death lawfully inflicted; as, the execution of a murderer.
Etymology [F. exécution, L. executio, exsecutio.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “execution”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details