execute

• vt. 实行；执行；处死

ex-, 向外。-sec, 跟随，相接，词源同sequence, prosecute. 即一步接一步的执行。

execute

execute: [14] The original meaning of execute in English was ‘carry out’, but the sense ‘kill judicially’ had already developed by the end of the 15th century (it comes from the notion of ‘carrying out’ a sentence). The word comes via Old French executer from medieval Latin executāre, a derivative of Latin exsequī. This, a compound formed from the intensive prefix exand sequī ‘follow’ (source of English consecutive, consequent, obsequious, sequence, subsequent, etc), meant originally ‘follow to the end, pursue’, and hence ‘follow through, carry out, fulfil’.

Its derivative exsequiās ‘funeral procession’ produced English exequies [14].
=> consecutive, consequent, obsequious, sequence, subsequent

execute (v.)

late 14c. "to carry into effect" (transitive, mostly in law with reference to warrants, sentences, etc.), also "carry out or accomplish a course of action" (intransitive), from Old French executer (14c.), from Medieval Latin executare, from Latin execut-/exsecut-, past participle stem of exequi/exsequi "to follow out, to follow to the grave," figuratively "to follow, follow after, accompany, follow up, prosecute, carry out, enforce; execute, accomplish; punish, avenge," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + sequi "follow" (see sequel). Meaning "to inflict capital punishment" is from late 15c., from earlier legal sense "perform judgment or sentence on" (early 15c.). Related: Executed; executing.