executer 
Would it not redound to the discredit of an earthly 
prince, to permit, that . . . the executers of his edicts 
should have the least injury olfered them? 
Rttrrow, Works, I. xii. 
execution (ek-se-ku'shgn), . [< ME. execution 
(= 0. executie == Gr. execution = Dan. Sw. cxeku- 
tion), < OF. execution, F. execution = Sp. ejecu- 
cion = Pg. execufdo = It. esecuzione, < L. execu- 
tio(n-), exsecutio(n-), a carrying out, perform- 
ance, a prosecution, etc., < exequi, exsequi, pp. 
executus, exseeutus, carry out, execute : see exe- 
cute.] 1. The act or process of completing or 
accomplishing; the act or process of carrying 
out in accordance with a plan, a purpose, or an 
order. 
Whatsoever thou, Lord, hast decreed to thyself above 
in heaven, give me a holy assiduity of endeavour, and 
peace of conscience in the execution of thy decrees here. 
Donne, Sermons, vi. 
The intention is good, and the method indicated is no 
doubt sound, but it is impossible to speak highly of the 
execution. Athenaeum, No. 3067, p. 172. 
2. The act of performing or doing, in general ; 
performance ; hence, mode, method, or style 
of performance; the way in which a desired 
effect is produced ; especially, in art and music, 
the technical skill manifested ; facility in the 
manipulation of a work or an instrument, in 
singing, or in performing a part. 
No art of execution could redeem the faults of such a 
design. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. 
If Petrarch had put nothing more into his sonnets than 
execution, there are plenty of Italian sonneteers who would 
be his match. Lowell, Study Windows, p. 420. 
3. In law: (a) The act of affixing, as to an in- 
strument, the tokens of assent, as by signing, 
sealing, delivering, etc., or by the performance 
of such acts and the observance of such forms 
as are required by law to make it the act of the 
party: as, the execution of a deed. (6) The in- 
strument, warrant, or official order by which an 
officer is empowered to carry a judgment of a 
court into effect: properly called a writ of exe- 
cution. An execution for debt is issued by a court or an 
officer of a court, and is levied by a sheriff, his deputy, or a 
marshal or a constable, on the property or person of the 
debtor. 
The writ of execution, that 
Her heading did perport : 
The which was executed soone 
Aud in a solemne sort. 
Warner, Albion's England, x. 56. 
(c) Popularly, the levy itself. 
Lady Sneer. But do your brother's distresses increase? 
Joseph S. Every hour. I am told he has had another exe- 
cution in the house yesterday. 
Sheridan, School for Scandal, i. 1. 
4. The act of giving effect (to) or of carrying 
into effect; the act of enforcing ; enforcement; 
especially, the carrying into effect of the sen- 
tence or judgment of a court. 
The dealings of men who administer government, and 
unto whom the execution of that law belongeth. 
Hooker, Eccles. Polity, ii. 1. 
Specifically 5. The carrying out of a death 
sentence ; capital punishment ; the act of put- 
ting to death as directed by a judge of court: 
as, the execution of a murderer. 
The high court of justice appointed a committee to in- 
spect the parts about Whitehall for a convenient place 
for the execution of the King. Ludlow, Memoirs, I. 244. 
I believe that I could show that all the executions for 
religious causes in England, by all sides and during all 
time, are not so many as were the sentences of death 
passed in one year of the reign of George III. for one 
single sort of crime, the forging of bank-notes. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 329. 
6. Effective work, or the result attained by it : 
generally after do : as, the speech did good exe- 
cution for our side ; every shot did execution. 
A maner sergeant was this privee man, 
The which that feithful ofte founden hadde 
In thinges grete, and eek swich folk wel can 
Don execution on thinges badde. 
Chaucer, Clerk's Tale, 1. 466. 
Even as an adder when she doth unroll 
To do some fatal execution. Shak. , Tit. And. , ii. 3. 
Women are armed with fans as men with swords, and 
sometimes do more execution with them. 
Adtliion, The Fan Exercise. 
7f. The pillaging or plundering of a country 
by the enemy's army. Wilhclm, Mil. Diet. 
You know his marches, 
You have seen his executions. Is it yet peace? 
Fletcher, Loyal Subject, v. 6. 
Arrest in execution. See arrestt, 5. Dormant exe- 
cution. See dormant. Drolt d'execution. Seeiiroit. 
Execution by a messenger-at-arms or other of- 
ficer of the law, in Scots law, an attestation under the 
hand of the messenger or other officer that he has given 
the citation or executed the diligence, in terms of his war- 
rant for so doing. 
executioner (ek-se-ku'shon-er), TO. 1. One who 
executes or carries into effect; especially, one 
who carries into effect a death sentence of a 
2062 
court or tribunal; a functionary who inflicts 
capital punishment in pursuance of a legal war- 
rant; a headsman or hangman. 
Is not the causer of the timeless deaths . . . 
As blameful as the executioner? 
Shak., Rich. III., i. 2. 
In this case every man hath a right to punish the offend- 
er, and be executioner of the law of nature. Locke. 
Having made a speech, and taken off his George, he 
kneeled down at the block, and the executioner performed 
his office. Ludlow, Memoirs, I. 244. 
2. That by means of which anything is per- 
formed ; an instrument or implement used in 
producing a desired effect. [Rare.] 
All along 
The walls abominable ornaments ! 
Are tools of wrath, anvils of torments hung ; 
Fell executioners of foul intents. 
Crashaw, Sospetto d'Herode. 
executive (eg-zek'u-tiv), a. and . [= F. ex- 
ecutif ' = Sp. ejecutivo = Pg. executive = It. es- 
ecutivo, < L. executus, pp. of exequi, exsequi, exe- 
cute: see execute.] I. a. 1. Concerned with 
or pertaining to executing, performing, or car- 
rying into effect: specifically applied to that 
branch of government which is intrusted with 
the execution of the laws, as distinguished from 
the legislative and judicial. The body that deliberates 
and enacts laws is legislative ; the body that judges or de- 
termines the application of the laws to particular cases, 
their constitutionality, etc., is judicial; the person, or 
body of persons, who carries the laws into effect, or super- 
intends the enforcement of them, is executive : thus, in the 
government of the United States these three bodies are 
respectively the two houses of Congress, the Supreme 
Court, and the President with the officials subordinate to 
him. 
It is of the nature of war to increase the executive, at 
the expense of the legislative authority. 
A. Hamilton, Federalist, No. viii. 
2. Suited for executing or carrying into effect ; 
of the kind requisite for practical performance 
or direction: as, executive ability Executive 
officer, the officer on board a United States man-of-war 
who has charge of all details of the drills, police, cleanli- 
ness, and general management of the ship. He is next in 
command to the commanding officer. 
II. n. That branch of a government to which 
the execution of the laws is intrusted ; an offi- 
cer of a government, or an official body, charged 
with the execution and enforcement of the laws. 
The executive may be a king, emperor, presi- 
dent, council, or other magistrate or body. 
Besides the direct commerce which may take place be- 
tween the Executive and a member, there are other evils 
resulting from their appointment to office, wholly at war 
with the theory of our government and the purity of its 
action. T. H. Benton, Thirty Years, I. 85. 
The executive was henceforward known as "the Presi- 
dent." Bancroft, Hist. Const., II. 121. 
The liberty of the subject to act or speak, or even to 
think, was reduced to a minimum under an executive 
familiar with constructive treasons. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 264. 
executively (eg-zek'u-tiv-li), adv. In the way 
of executing or performing; by active agency. 
Who did . . . executively by miraculous operation con- 
duct our Saviour into his fleshly tabernacle. 
Barrow, Works, I. xxxii. 
It was the first appearance of that mysterious thing 
which we call Life. How shall we account for its intro- 
duction? Naturally or supernaturally? Spontaneously 
or executively i Atheistically or Divinely ? 
G. D. Boardman, Creative Week, p. 120. 
executoire (eg-za-ku-twor'), n. [F., < LL. ex- 
secutorius : see executory.] In French law, an act 
setting forth a judgment, or a notarial deed, by 
virtue of which the creditor may proceed to ex- 
ecution by seizing and selling the goods of his 
debtor. 
executor (eg-zek'u-tpr, sometimes ek'se-ku-tor 
in senses 1 and 2), n. [< ME. executour, exec- 
utur, cxequitour, < OF. executour, executeur, es- 
secutor, F. executeur = Pr. exequtor, executor = 
Sp. ejecutor = Pg. executor = It. esecutore, ese- 
guitore, < L. executor, exsecutor, a performer, 
accomplisher, prosecutor, ML. also executor (of 
a will), < exequi, exsequi, pp. executus, exseeutus, 
perform, accomplish, execute : see execute.] 1. 
One who executes or performs; a doer; an exe- 
cuter. 
Executor of this office, dirge for to synge, 
Shall begynne ye bisshope of seynt as [Asaph]. 
Political Poems, etc. (ed. Furnivall), p. 7. 
My sweet mistress 
Weeps when she sees me work ; and says such baseness 
Had never like executor. Shak., Tempest, iii. 1. 
His [the mayor's] functions as receiver and executor of 
writs devolved on the sheriffs of the newly constituted 
shire. Stubbs, Const. Hist. (2d ed.), | 810. 
2f. An executioner. 
This every lewed viker or persoun 
Can seye, how ire engendreth homycide ; 
Ire is in soth executour of pride. 
Chauter, Summoner's Talc, 1. 304. 
exedra 
The sad-ey'd justice, with his surly hum, 
Delivering o'er to executors pale 
The lazy yawning drone. Shak., Hen. V., i. 2. 
3. Specifically, the person appointed by a tes- 
tator to execute his will, or to see its provi- 
sions earned into effect. 
The deuil is his exccutur of his gold and is tresure. 
Early Eny. Poems (ed. Furnivall), p. 19. 
Thou schalte be myn executur, for y am lyke to dye. 
Ifugcs Poeticce (ed. Halliwell), p. 26. 
I make your grace my executor, and, I beseech you, 
See my poor will fulflll'd. 
Fletcher, Humorous Lieutenant, iii. 6. 
Confirmation of executor. See confirmation. Execu- 
tor creditor, in Scots law, a creditor who, when the ex- 
ecutor nominate and the other executors legally entitled 
to expede confirmation have declined to confirm, obtains, 
in virtue of a liquid ground of debt, confirmation to the 
extent of administering as much of the estate as is suf- 
ficient to pay his debt. Executor dative, in Scots law, 
an executor appointed by the court : equivalent to admin- 
istrator in England. Executor de son tort, one who, 
without authority, intermeddles with the goods of a de- 
ceased person, by which he subjects himself to the burden 
of executorship without the profits or advantages. Ex- 
ecutor nominate, an executor appointed by the will of 
the testator. 
executorial (eg-zek-u-to'ri-al), a. [= It. ese- 
cutoriale, < ML. executorialis, < LL. exsecutorius, 
executory : gee executory.] Pertaining to an ex- 
ecutor; executive. 
The ancient executorial rolls written and signed by 
Queen Eleanor's executors, dated 1291-4. 
JV. andQ., 7th ser., VI. 117. 
executorship (eg-zek'u-tor-ship), n. [< executor 
+ -ship.] The office of executor. 
executory (eg-zek'u-to-ri), a. [= F. executoire = 
Sp. ejecutorio = Pg. executorio, < LL. exsecuto- 
rius, < L. exequi, exsequi, pp. executus, exseeutus, 
execute: see executor, execute.] 1. Of or per- 
taining to execution, especially to the perform- 
ance of official duties ; required or fitted to be 
carried into effect ; executive. 
A vigilant and jealous eye over executory and judicial 
magistracy. Burke. 
Two systems of administration were to be formed ; one 
which should be in the real secret and confidence ; the 
other merely ostensible, to perform the official and execu- 
tory duties of government. Burke, Present Discontents. 
In some traits of our politics we are not one. . . . You 
may say these are subordinate, executory, instrumental 
traits. R. Choate, Addresses, p. 486. 
2. In law, to be executed or carried into effect 
in future ; containing provision for its execu- 
tion or carrying into effect ; intended or of such 
a nature as to take effect on a future contin- 
gency : as, an executory contract, devise, limita- 
tion, or remainder. 
In spite of the Austrian representation, the conference 
refused to make its decisions executory. 
E. Schuyler, American Diplomacy, p. 362. 
Executory consideration, contract, devise, estate, 
etc. See the nouns. Executory process, in civil law, 
an ex parte proceeding for the enforcement of a debt by 
seizure and sale of property under an instrument notari- 
ally authenticated, which therefore is allowed to be en- 
forced by judicial powers like a judgment, without ordi- 
nary suit brought. Executory trust, a trust which re- 
quires a further instrument, either to declare its terms 
fully or carry it into effect, as where A devises property to 
B in trust to convey it to C. Executory uses, springing 
uses. See use. 
executress (eg-zek'u-tres), n. [< executor + 
-ess. Cf. executrice.] A female who executes, 
accomplishes, or carries into effect. See execu- 
trix. 
executricet (eg-zek'u-tris), n. [ME. executrice, 
< OF. executeresse, F. executrice = It. esecutrice, 
executrice, < ML. executrix (-trie-), fern, of ex- 
ecutor, executor: see executor.] A female doer 
or accomplisher. 
But Fortune, executrice of wierdes ! 
Chaucer, Troilus, iii. 617. 
executrix (eg-zek'u-triks), n. [ML., fern, of ex- 
ecutor: see executrice.] A female executor ; a 
woman appointed by a testator to execute his 
will. 
A female at fourteen is at years of legal discretion, and 
may choose a guardian ; at seventeen may be executrix; 
ami at twenty-one may dispose of herself and her lands. 
niackstone. Com., I. xvii. 
executry (eg-zek'u-tri), . [< executor + -y.] 
In Scots law, the whole movable estate and ef- 
fects of a defunct person (with the exception 
only of heirship movables), being the proper 
subject of the executor's administration. 
exedent (ek'se-dent), a. [< L. exeden(t-)s, ppr. 
of exedere, eat of, < ex, out, + edere = E. eat.] 
Eating; eating out: as, an credent tumor. 
exedra (eks'e-drfi, or ek-se'dra), . ; pi. cxrdrai 
(-dre). [L. exedra, a hall furnished with seats, 
< Gr. effrfpa, < ff, out, + e/>a, a seat.] In anc. 
arch., a raised platform with steps, in the open 
