Where does “exec” come from?

Exec is a shortening of English executive, which derives from Middle French executif, from Latin exsecutus, the past participle of exsequor meaning to follow out or pursue.

exec (English): executive, executive officer; To execute; to run

Definitions

  1. executive, executive officer; To execute; to run

Ancestry of “exec”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishexecutiveDesigned or fitted for execution, or carrying...
2Middle Frenchexecutif
3Latinexecutivus
4Latinexsequī
Every word from Latin exsequīEvery word from Latin executivusEvery word from Middle French executif