exécution

Forms

exécution f (plural exécutions)^[1] Old French execucion (about 1265) and execussion (about 1283).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin exsecūtiō (“completion, accomplishment, prosecution at law”).^[5][4][6] The Latin noun is derived from exsequor (“to follow to the end, to accomplish, to prosecute, to punish”), formed from ex- and sequor (“to follow”).^[5][4][7] It is related to exécuter and to suivre.^[4]

Littré gives Old Occitan executio, Spanish ejecución and Italian esecuzione as cognates.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Rutebeuf uses it about 1263–1265 for the office of an exécuteur of a will; in 1283 Beaumanoir writes metre le testament a execution “to carry out the will”.^[5][4]

Semantic evolution

The word long remained a legal term: from carrying out a will or a judgment it came to mean, in the 14th century, the seizure and sale of a debtor's goods by court order.^[5][4] Linked with the verb exécuter, metre a secussion meant “to put to death, to destroy” about 1330, and executions criminelles (1540) led to the sense “putting to death of a condemned person”, then of any killing outside legal process.^[5][4]

The general sense “carrying out” passed into common use in the 14th century, whence mettre à exécution and the contrast with a plan; from 1680 it also named the way a work is made, especially the performance of a piece of music.^[4][3] In the 19th century it was used figuratively of a harsh attack on someone's reputation, and jokingly of a bad musical performance.^[4]

Timeline

• 1263–1265 – Rutebeuf uses execucion for the office of executor of a will.^[5][4]
• 1283 – Beaumanoir writes metre le testament a execution.^[5][4]
• 14th century – Bersuire uses it for the seizure and sale of a debtor's goods.^[5][3]
• c. 1330 – Metre a secussion means “to put to death”.^[5][4]
• 1540 – An ordinance speaks of executions criminelles.^[5]
• 1680 – Richelet records it of the way a work is carried out.^[4][3]
• 1870 – Exécution capitale is recorded by Larousse.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The carrying out of something planned or ordered, accomplishment: l'exécution d'un plan;^[7][9][10] mettre à exécution, to put into effect.^[7][9][10]
2. (law) The enforcement of a judgment or a legal act;^[9][10] exécution forcée, seizure of property.^[9][10]
3. The way a work or task is made according to a rule or plan.^[9][10]
4. The performance of a piece of music or dance.^[9][10]
5. (computing) The running of a program by a computer.^[9][10]
6. The putting to death of a condemned person, or any killing.^[9][10]
7. (figurative) A harsh attack that ruins someone's reputation.^[10][4]
8. (stock exchange) The sale or purchase of securities at the expense of a defaulting speculator.^[10]

Related words

• exécuter
• exécuteur
• exécutif
• Latin exsecūtiō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 290b
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e f g h Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)