execute

Pronunciation: /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment
  2. verb murder in a planned fashion
  3. verb put in effect

Etymology

From Old French executer (French exécuter), from Latin exsecutus, past participle of exsequor (“to follow (up/through)”, particularly in the sense “to go through with a deed or punishment”), from ex- (“out”) + sequor (“to follow”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

put to death

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
kill, punish
Narrower (hyponyms)
hang, burn, crucify

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