To carry out or accomplish a plan, order, or course of action; to perform or complete a task. Can also mean to put someone to death as a legal punishment.
From Latin 'executus,' past participle of 'exsequi' meaning 'to follow out' or 'to pursue to the end,' combining 'ex-' (out) and 'sequi' (to follow). Originally meant following through on something to its completion.
Execute means to follow something through to the END - 'EX-seq-ute' comes from 'follow out completely.' Whether executing a plan (following it through) or executing a criminal (following the sentence to its final conclusion), it's about completion. Follow through to the finish!
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