excuse 
I reject, at once, all such defi-ix <. . r,-i/,., , ,,r apolugy, or 
whatever else it may l>e culli-'l. 
II. \\'fli,<t,T, Spi-rrh, J:in.-.M, IViL 1 . 
3. Tlial which srrvt'H as iv reason or ground for 
excusing; an extenuating or justifying fact or 
argument, or what is adduced as such by way 
of apology or to secure pardon. 
My nephew's trespass may be well forgot, 
It hath tin; rxcuKC of youth. 
Shalt., 1 Hen. IV., v. 2. 
There i no excuse to forget what everything prompts 
unto us. Sir T. llromtt, Christ, llor., iii. 10. 
If eyea were made fur seeing, 
Then beauty fa its own excuse for being. 
Kmerion, The Rhoilora. 
= Syn. Aixiliifti/. Kxcutf, Plea. See apology. 
excuseless (eks-kus'les), a. [< excuse, n., + 
-less.] 1. Having no excuse. 
You are likely to come so excuseless to your torments, 
so unpltietl ami so scorned, so without all honour in your 
snlfurlngs. Hammond, Works, IV. 524. 
2. Inexcusable. 
excusementt (eks-kuz'ment), n. [< ME. ex- 
cusement, < OF. cxcusemciit = Pr. escusament = 
It. scusamento, < LL. excusamentum, an excuse, 
< L. excusare, cxcussare, excuse: see excuse, v.] 
An excuse. 
Hut there ayene the counsaile saide 
That tliel be nought excused so, 
For he Is one and thel be two : 
And two have more witte than one, 
So thilke excusement was none. 
Gainer, Coat. Amant., i. 
excuser (oks-ku'zfer), . 1. One who offers ex- 
cuses or pleads for himself or for another. 
In vain would his excusers endeavour to palliate hit 
enormities by Imputing them to madness. Swift. 
2. One who excuses or accepts the excuse or 
apology of another. 
excusiont. Execution. Chaucer. 
excuss (eks-kus'), <' t. [< L. excussus, pp. of 
excutere, shake out or off, < ex, out, + quatere, 
shake: see quash. Cf. concuss, discuss, percuss.] 
If. To shake off or out; get rid of. 
They could not totally excuss the notions of a Deity out 
of their minds. StUlinyfleet, Origines Sacrse, I. 1. 
2f. To discuss; unfold; decipher. 
To take some pains in excitmsing some old documents. 
F. Junius. 
3. To seize and detain by law, as goods. 
The person of a man ought not, by the civil law, to be 
taken for a debt, unless his goods and estate have been 
first exeumed. Ayli/e, Parergon. 
excussiont (eks-kush'on), H. [= Sp. exctision = 
Pg. excussflo = It. escussione, < LL. excussio(n-), 
a shaking down, < L. excutere, pp. excussus, 
shake out: see excuss.] 1. The act of excuss- 
ing, discussing, unfolding, or deciphering; dis- 
cussion. 
Aphorismes . . . cannot be made but out of the pyth 
and heart of sciences : for illustration and excursion are 
cut off ; variety of example Is cut off. 
Bacon, On Learning, vi. 2. 
2. A seizing by law ; in civil law, the act of ex- 
hausting legal proceedings against a debtor 
or his property, before proceeding against the 
property of a person secondarily liable for the 
debt; discussion. 
excussoryt (eks-kus'o-ri), a. [< L. excussorius, 
serving to shake out, < exKutcre, pp. excussus, 
shake out or off: see excuss.] Shaking off or 
out. Bailey, 1727. 
excutientt (eks-ku'shi-ent), a. [< L. excu- 
ticn(t-)s, ppr. of excutere, 'shake out or off: see 
excuss.] Shaking off. Bailey, 1727. 
ex div. An abbreviation of ex dii'idendo (with- 
out the dividend), used on the stock exchange, 
and implying that the stock, bond, or other se- 
curity is bought and sold without the dividend 
due or accruing. Also written ex d. and xd. 
exe 1 , . An obsolete or dialectal form of ax 1 . 
0X6-, . An obsolete or dialectal form of ox 2 . 
exeat (eks'e-at). n. [L., let him depart, 3d pers. 
sing. pres. subj. of exire, go out, depart: see 
<-.rit.] 1. Leave of absence granted to a stu- 
dent in the English universities. 
Exeats, or permission to go down during term, were 
never granted i, m in cases of life and death, and an tin 
usual number of chapels were exacted. [Cambridge.] 
C. A. Bristed, English University, p. 181, note. 
2. Permission granted by a bishop to a priest 
to leave his diocese. See ne exeat. 
exec. An abbreviation of executor. 
execrable (ek'se-kra-bl), a. [= F. execrable = 
Sp. execrable = Pg. "e xccravcl = It. esecrabile, < 
L. execrabilis, exsccrabilis, < execrare, exsecnin . 
curse: see execrate.'] 1. Deserving to be ex- 
ecrated or cursed; very hateful; abhorred; 
abominable : as, an execrable wretch. 
2061 
Try whether you can make a Conquest of yourself, in 
Niibdiiin^ tins fx'-i-rablt custom [of swearing). 
llntcrll, Letters, I. v. 11. 
Whence and what art thou, execrable shape ? 
Milton, P. I.., li. 681. 
But Is an enemy so execrable that, though In captivity, 
Ins wishes and comforts are to be disregarded and rv< n 
crossed.' 1 think not. Jr/erson, Correspondence, 1. 159. 
2. Very bad j intolerable : as, an execrable pun. 
[Colloq.] at. Piteous; lamentable; cruel. 
The execrable passion of Christ. 
/(. Hill, Pathway to Pity (1629), p. 49. 
= Syn. Flagitious, Villainous, etc. <ee nefarious), cursed, 
accursed, detestable ; odious. 
execrableness (ek'se-kra-bl-nes), . The state 
of being execrable. [Itare.] 
execrably (ek'se-kra-bli), adr. In an execrable 
manner; detestably. 
Such a person deserved to bear the guilt of a fact so ex- 
ecrably base. Karroo:, Works, II. xxvi. 
execrate (ek'se-krat), v. t.; pret. and pp. exe- 
crated, ppr. execrating. [< L. execratus, exse- 
cratus,pp. of execrare. exsecrare (= It. esecrare 
= 8p. Pg. cxecrar = F. execrer), take a solemn 
oath with imprecations, curse, < ex, out, + sa- 
crare, consecrate, also declare accursed: see 
sacred. Cf. consecrate, desecrate.] 1. To curse; 
imprecate evil upon ; hence, to detest utterly ; 
abhor; abominate. 
They gaze upon the links that hold them fast, 
With eyes of anguish, execrate their lot, 
Then shake them in despair and dance again. 
Cowper, Task, II. 660. 
He [Pitt] execrated the Hanoverian connection, . . . 
[then] declared that Hanover ought to be as dear to us as 
Hampshire. Macaulay, William Pitt. 
He was very generally execrated as the real source of 
the disturbances of the kingdom. 
Pretcott, Ferd. and I -a.. L 3. 
2f. To declare to be accursed ; denounce as 
deserving to be cursed or abominated. 
As If mere plebeian noise . . . were enough to ... 
execrate anything as ... devilish. 
Jer. Taylor (?), Artif . Handsomeness, p. 156. 
The learned Le Fevre wrote a most elegant copy of Latin 
verses, execrating the flute and all the commentators on 
It. Colman, Comedies of Terence, Pref., p. 33. 
Syn. See comparison under malediction. 
execration (ek-se-kra'shon), n. [= F. cxt- 
cration = Sp. execracion = Pg. execraqSo = It. 
esecrazione, < L. execratio(n-), exsecratio(n-), a 
cursing, < execrare, curse: see execrate.] 1. 
The act of cursing; imprecation of evil ; male- 
diction ; utter detestation expressed. 
Cease, gentle queen, these execrations. 
Shak., 2 Hen. VI., iii. 2. 
There was another form of consecration, or, we should 
rather say, of execration, by which the vengeance of one 
or more deities was invoked on an offender, and he was 
solemnly consigned to them for punishment in this world 
and the next. C. T. Xewton, Art and Archseol., p. 193. 
2. The object execrated ; a thing held in abom- 
ination. 
They shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a 
curse, and a reproach. Jer. xliv. 12. 
= 8yn. Curst, / 'mjtrecation, etc. See malediction. 
execratioust (ek-se-kra'shus)^ a. [< execrati-on 
-t- -ous.] Imprecatory; cursing; execrative. 
A whole volley of such like extcratious wishes. 
Richardson, Clarissa Harlowe, VIII. 90. 
execrative (ek'se-kra-tiv), a. [< execrate + 
-ire.] Imprecating evil; cursing; denouncing. 
Into the body of the poor Tatars, cxccrativc Roman his- 
tory Intercalated an alphabetic letter ; and so they con- 
tinue Tartars of fell Tartarean nature to this day. 
Carlyle, French Rev., III. I. 1. 
execratively (ek'se-kra-tiv-li), adv. In an ex- 
ecrative manner; with cursing. 
Foul old Rome screamed execratively her loudest, so 
that the true shape of many things is lost for us. 
Carlyle, French Rev., III. I. 1. 
execratory (ek'se-kra-to-ri), a. and n. [< LL. 
as if "execratorius, 'exsecratorius, < L. execrare, 
exsecrare, curse: see execrate.'] I. a. Denun- 
ciatory; abusive. 
I shall take the liberty of narrating Lancelot's fanatical 
conduct without txecratont comment, certain that he will 
still receive his just reward of condemnation. 
Kingtley, Yeast, xlv. 
II. H.: pi. execratories(-riz). A formulary of 
execration. 
This notice of the ceremony Is very agreeable to the 
execratory which is now used by them, wherein they pro- 
foundly curse the Christians. 
L. Addiion, State of the Jews, p. 179. 
exectt, ''. t. See rjfueet. 
exectiont, See exsection. 
executable (ek'se-ku-ta-bl), a. [= F. execu- 
table = Sp. executable; as execute + -able.] Ca- 
pable of being executed or carried out. 
The whole project is set down as executable at eight 
millions. Etlinbnryk Rev., Jan., 1856, p. 244. 
executor 
executant (eg-zek'u-taut), M. [< F. executant, 
ppr. of fxfcuter, execute: see execute.] One 
wno executes or performs ; specifically, in w- 
nic, a performer, whether vocal or instrumental. 
Great executants on the organ. DC V' 
Rosamond, with the executant Instil., t, hail seized his 
manner of playing. Ucorye Eliot, Middleman!), xvl. 
Tim executant . . . may be congratulated upon bis re- 
turn to the concert-room. Athenaeum, Jan. 14, 1888, p. 69. 
execute (ek'so-kut), i 1 .; pret. and pp. executed, 
ppr. executing. [< ME. executen (= D. execute- 
ren), < OF. executer, F. cxecuter = Sp. ejemtur 
= Pg. executor = It. esecutare, execute, < L. 
executus, exsectitus, pp. of exequi, exfteijui, pur- 
sue, follow out, < ex, out, + sequi, follow : see 
sue, sequent. Cf. persecute, prosecute.] I. tratt*. 
1. To follow out or through to the end; per- 
form completely, as something projected, pre- 
scribed, or ordered ; carry into complete effect : 
accomplish: as, to execute a purpose, plan, de- 
sign, or scheme. 
They were as ferfent as ony fyre 
To execute her lonlys byddyng. 
t'arly Kng. 1'oenu (ed. Furnivall), p. 188. 
Spirits ... in what shape they choose, 
Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, 
Can execute their aery purposes. 
Hilton, P. L., I. 430. 
2. To perform or do: as, to execute a difficult 
gymnastic feat; to execute a piece of music. 
If the acceleration which tends to restore a liody to Its 
median position l>ear a fixed proportion to the displace- 
ment, the l>ody will execute a simple harmonic motion 
whose period is independent of the amplitude of oscilla- 
tion. A. Daniell, Prin. of Physics, p. 77. 
3. In law : (a) To complete and give validity 
to, as a legal instrument, by performing what- 
ever is required by law to be done, as by sign- 
ing and sealing, attestation, authentication, 
etc.: as, to execute a deed or lease. An instrument 
is said to be executed when it is so authenticated as to be 
complete as an instrument, although the contract or de- 
claration of purpose embodied in the instrument may still 
remain executory. See executory contract, under contract, 
(b) To perform or carry out fully, as the con- 
ditions of a deed, contract, etc. A contract con- 
taining reciprocal obligations may in this sense be executed 
on one side while remaining executory on the other, as, 
for instance, when the purchaser pays the price in full 
before he receives a conveyance. 
4. To give effect to ; put in force ; enforce : 
as, to execute law or justice ; to execute a writ ; 
to execute judgment or vengeance. 
This King [William I.] ordained so good Laws, and had 
them so well executed, that it is said a Girl might carry a 
hag of Money all the Country over without Danger of rob- 
bing. Baker, Chronicles, p. 28. 
But, for the use of arms he did not understand, 
Except some rock or tree, that, coming next to hand, 
He ras'ii out of the earth to execute his rage. 
Drayton, Polyolblon, I. 477. 
He who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he 
who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. He makes 
statutes and decisions possible or lni)H>Bslble to be executed. 
Lincoln, quoted in The Century, XXXIV. 390. 
5. To perform judgment or sentence on ; spe- 
cifically, to inflict capital punishment on; put 
to death in accordance with law or the sen- 
tence of a court : as, to execute a traitor. 
The duke hath lost never a man, but one that is like to 
be executed for robbing a church. Shalt., Hen. V., iii. 6. 
Hence 6. To put to death ; kill; do to death. 
The treacherous Falstolfe wounds my heart ! 
Whom with my bare fists I would execute. 
Shat., 1 Hen. VI., I. 4. 
Executed consideration, contract, estate, etc. See 
the nouns. Executed trust, one manifested by an in- 
strument which deflnes its terms, as distinguished from an 
executory trust, or one so manifested as to require a further 
instrument to declare some of its terms. See executory. 
Executed use, a use to which the legal title has been 
united, either by conveyance or by force of the statute of 
uses. See use. = 8yn. 1. Accomplish, E/ect, etc. (see per- 
form), fulfil, consummate. 
II. intrans. 1. To carry out or accomplish a 
course of action, a purpose, or a plan ; produce 
an effect or result aimed at. 
There comes a fellow crying out for help, 
And Casslo following him with determin'd sword. 
To execute upon him. Shak., Othello, II. 3. 
Judgment commands. 
But resolution executes. Ford, Broken Heart, I. 2. 
With courage on he goes ; doth execute 
With counsel ; and returns with victory. 
Daniel, Death of the Earl of Devonshire. 
2. To perform a piece of music : as, he executes 
well. 
executet, '(. [ME. cxecut, < L. executus, exse- 
cutus, pp.: see the verb.] Executed; accom- 
plished. 
Extcut was al. Chaucer, Troilus, Iii. 622. 
executer (ek'se-ku-ter), . One who performs 
or carries into effect. See executor. 
