Used to express complete agreement or to emphasize precise accuracy in a statement or measurement.
From Latin 'exactus' meaning 'driven out' or 'demanded,' which evolved through Old French into Middle English. The word originally referred to something demanded with precision, and by the 16th century had developed its modern sense of complete accuracy or agreement.
Interestingly, 'exactly' has become one of the most popular interjections in modern conversation, often used as a standalone response to show enthusiastic agreement. Its overuse in casual speech has made it somewhat of a linguistic crutch, similar to how 'literally' has evolved beyond its original meaning.
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