English → Latin
“execute” in Latin
exsequorto follow after thoroughly, steadfastly accompany, go after, seek after, pursue persistently; to follow or accompany to persequorto follow perseveringly, continue to follow; search through; pursue; to pursue, chase, hunt; to avenge, take vengeance ucōnficiōto prepare, accomplish, complete, execute; settle, close a bargain; traverse; to produce, cause, bring about, effect, seefficiōto make out or work out; effect, execute, complete, accomplish, make, form, compose; to cause to occur, to bring about, perficiōto finish, complete; to perfect; to carry out, execute, performabsolvōto release, discharge; to loosen from, make loose, detach, untie; to pay offperagōto pierce, transfix; to traverse, pass through; to harass, disturb, annoyofficiumduty, service, office; obligation, an obligatory service, visit, or gesture; kindness, favor, courtesymandōto order, command, enjoin; to put in hand; deliver over; to commit, consignitera route; a passage
The English word execute itself goes back to Latin sequor, through exsecutus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
execute
exsequi: persequi (to follow up anything till it is done, especially of things done by rule or direction, officium, mandata): conficere (to bring to an end, so that the labor is over; to finish, without reference to the production of a perfect work: itinera, mandata, conficiuntur, non perficiuntur nec absolvuntur, D.): efficere: ad effectum adducere (to bring to actual existence): perficere (to carry through to the end; to make anything perfect; opposed to inchoare, to begin): absolvere (to finish off, so that no more remains to be done; to make complete; opposed to inchoare, instituere). (The words are found in this connection and order.) absolvere ac (et) perficere: peragere (to carry a business through): sometimes facere alone (opposed to cogitare). To be able to execute anything, *parem esse alicui rei exsequendae: to execute a commission, jussum or imperatum facere: mandata efficere, conficere, perficere, exsequi, persequi; in the exactest manner, mandata exhaurire: imperio alicujus defungi: to execute a will, testamentum facere (general term) or conficere.
Punish capitally, supplicium capitis sumere de aliquo: supplicio capitis afficere aliquem: aliquem supplicio punire: aliquem morte multare: to execute (if the mode is beheading), caput alicujus praecidere (with the sword; it would be wrong to say caput cervicibus abscidere; unless the person is first strangled, Cic., Phil., 2, 2, cervicibus fractis caput abscidit): securi ferire or percutere (with the axe, as the instrument used by the executioner): decollare (as a general term, post-Augustan; Sen. and Suet., and even then rejected from the more elevated style): to be tortured and then executed, omni supplicio excruciatum, or omnibus cruciatibus affectum necari.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for execute?
- The usual Latin words for “execute” are exsequor, persequor, cōnficiō; also efficiō, perficiō, absolvō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.