Execute

Execute - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

EX'ECUTE, v.t. [L. exequor, for exsequor; ex and sequor, to follow. See Seek.]

1. Literally, to follow out or through. Hence, to perform; to do; to effect; to carry into complete effect; to complete; to finish. We execute a purpose, a plan, design or scheme; we execute a work undertaken, that is, we pursue it to the end.

2. To perform; to inflict; as, to execute judgment or vengeance.

3. To carry into effect; as, to execute law or justice.

4. To carry into effect the law, or the judgment or sentence on a person; to inflict capital punishment on; to put to death; as, to execute a traitor.

5. To kill.

6. To complete, as a legal instrument; to perform what is required to give validity to a writing, as by signing and sealing; as, to execute a deed or lease.

EX'ECUTE, v.i. To perform the proper office; to produce an effect.

Executioner - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

(Mark 6:27). Instead of the Greek word, Mark here uses a Latin word, speculator, which literally means "a scout," "a spy," and at length came to denote one of the armed bodyguard of the emperor. Herod Antipas, in imitation of the emperor, had in attendance on him a company of speculatores. They were sometimes employed as executioners, but this was a mere accident of their office. (See MARK, GOSPEL [197]OF.)

Executioner - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

EXECU'TIONER, n. One who executes; one who carries into effect a judgment of death; one who inflicts a capital punishment in pursuance of a legal warrant. It is chiefly used in this sense.

1. He that kills; he that murders.

2. The instrument by which any thing is performed.

ek'-se-kut, ek-se-ku'-shun-er (`asah, "to do," din,"to judge," "decide"; poieo, "to do"; spekoulator, Latin speculator, "an attendant"):

"Execute" in the sense of "executing judgment," "vengeance," etc., is often found in the Old Testament (Ex 12:12; De 10:18; Ps 149:7; Jer 22:3; Eze 25:11; Mic 5:15; compare Jer 21:12, "Execute justice in the morning") and a few times in the New Testament (Joh 5:27; Ro 13:4 the King James Version; Jude 1:15). In the sense of punishing capitally, by legal process, it is not found. "Executioner" is found only in Mr 6:27 the King James Version, where Herod, the king, is said to have "sent an executioner" (spekoulator) to behead John the Baptist, but the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version have instead, according to the stricter meaning of the text, "The king sent forth a soldier of his guard." The office of executioner, however, was a recognized office in all the great nations of antiquity.

George B. Eager