executiveadj.n.
/ᵻɡˈzɛkjᵿtɪv/, /ɛɡˈzɛkjᵿtɪv/, U.S. /ɪɡˈzɛkjədɪv/, /ɛɡˈzɛkjədɪv/ A. adj.† 1.
a. Capable of performance; operative. Obsolete.
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the world > action or operation > ability > [adjective] > capable of performance
executive1646
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica iii. xvii. 148 They [some Laws] enjoyned perpetuall chastity; for [Hermaphrodites] being executive in both parts, male and female, and confined by some Laws unto one, they restrained a naturall power.
b. That executes sentence of death. (Stressed ˈexecutive.) Obsolete. rare.
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society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > [adjective] > that executes
executing1680
executive1773
executioneering1818
1773 J. Ross Fratricide (MS) i. 268 First whirl'd aloft the executive blade.
2. † a. Active in execution, energetic. Obsolete. rare.
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the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective]
sprindeOE
livelyOE
kaskc1300
wightc1300
courageousc1386
wighty14..
wieldya1413
ablec1440
tall of hand1530
sappy1558
energical1565
energetical1585
greenya1586
stout1600
strenuous1602
forceful?1624
actuous1626
vigorous1638
vivid1638
high-spirited1653
hearty1665
actuose1677
living1699
full-blooded1707
executive1708
rugged1731
sousing1735
energic1740
bouncing1743
two-fisted1774
energetic1782
zestful1797
rollicking1801
through-ganging1814
throughgoing1814
slashing1828
high-powered1829
high pressure1834
rip-roaring1834
red-blooded1836
ripsnorting1846
zesty1853
dynamic1856
throbbing1864
goey1875
torpedoic1893
kinky1903
zippy1903
go-at-it1904
punchy1907
up-and-at-'em1909
driving1916
vibranta1929
kinetic1931
zinging1931
high-octane1936
zingy1938
slam-bang1939
balls-to-the-wall1967
balls-out1968
ass-kicking1977
hi-octane1977
1708 W. Penn in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1872) X. 291 Rouse up, and be vigorous and executive.
1825 New Monthly Mag. 14 178 He is tolerably executive in converting his wishes into acts.
b. Apt or skilful in execution. (Chiefly U.S.)
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the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adjective] > skilful in execution
executive1888
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. II. lix. 412 The Americans are, to use their favourite expression, a highly executive people.
3.
a. Pertaining to execution; having the function of executing or carrying into practical effect.
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the world > action or operation > carrying out > [adjective]
effectivea1398
executional1652
executory1659
effectual1662
executivea1676
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) i. i. 29 They are the..strongest Instruments, fittest to be executive of the commands of the Soul.
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. 2 Tim. i. 7 The three great faculties of the Soul, the Executive Faculty..the Will..and the Intellect.
1691 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. 19 The Ship indeed has good Sails, there is nothing wanting to the Executive part.
1753 N. Torriano tr. J. B. L. Chomel Hist. Diss. Gangrenous Sore Throat 105 The Method of Treatment is always founded on the general Indications, but the executive Part is subordinated to Circumstances.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Executive branch, the commissioned and working officers of the ship, as distinguished from the civilian branch.
1875 P. G. Hamerton Intellect. Life (ed. 2) iv. ii. 149 A most experienced artist, a man of the very rarest executive ability.
1879 J. Lubbock Addresses, Polit. & Educ. iii. 47 Two executive Commissions were subsequently constituted.
b. esp. as the distinctive epithet of that branch of the government which is concerned or charged with carrying out the laws, decrees, and judicial sentences; opposed to ‘judicial’ and ‘legislative’.
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society > authority > power > [adjective] > executive
exequent1617
efficienciary1647
executive1647
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > [adjective] > relating to executive branch of
executative1647
executive1647
executory1647
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. xvi. 47 The executive power of the Law rested much in the Nobility.
1689 J. Locke Two Treat. Govt. ii. xii The legislative and executive power come often to be separated.
1742 D. Hume Indep. Parl. in Ess. vi. The executive power in every government is altogether subordinate to the legislative.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 288 This their first executive officer is to be a machine. View more context for this quotation
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 469 The executive government could undertake nothing great without the support of the Commons.
1863 H. Cox Inst. Eng. Govt. iii. iii. 631 The king has absolute power to retain executive ministers against the declared wish of the nation.
c. executive privilege n. U.S. the privilege claimed by the President for the executive branch of the U.S. government to withhold information if it is deemed to be in the public interest to do so.
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society > law > legal right > right of specific class, person, or place > [noun] > legal privilege or immunity > applying to U.S. executive
executive privilege1940
1940 Federal Repoter (U.S.) 2nd Ser. CXVII. 277/2 We have previously held a communication, released generally to the press, within this executive privilege.
1964 J. R. Wiggins Freedom or Secrecy (rev. ed.) xi. 228 Subordinate executive personnel invoked executive privilege as authority for withholding information from Congress on forty-four separate occasions.
1974 Black Panther 9 Feb. 13/3 As the time of impeachment approaches, additional claims of executive privilege can be expected.
1987 Washington Post 6 Mar. a3/5 The Justice Department, citing executive privilege, refused to give Congress internal epa documents on the ‘Superfund’ cleanup program.
4. Of or pertaining to the Executive (see B. 1). executive session, U.S. (see quot. 1888).
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society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > [adjective]
governmental1662
executive1811
1811 J. Quincy Speech 30 Jan. (1874) 235 Those..desirous of places in the executive gift.
1837 H. Martineau Society in Amer. II. 289 The fear and complaint are..of the increase of executive patronage.
1865 A. Lincoln Message to Congr. 6 Jan. If the people should..make it an Executive duty to re-enslave such persons.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. II. xl. 97 A State Senate..has..the power of confirming or rejecting appointments to office made by the governor. When it considers these it is said to ‘go into executive Session’.
B. n.
1. figurative.1842 E. B. Browning Greek Christian Poets & Eng. Poets (1863) 146 The drama is the executive of literature.
a. That branch of the government which is charged with the execution of the laws.
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society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > [noun] > executive branch of government
executive1790
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 288 A council..holds a sort of middle place between the supreme power exercised by the people..and the mere executive . View more context for this quotation
1847 L. H. Kerr tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Servia 298 This force constituted a sort of armed executive.
1867 J. Bright Speeches Parl. Reform 43 By the forbearance and permission of the Irish executive.
b. The person or persons in whom the supreme executive magistracy of a country or state is vested. Chiefly U.S., applied to the President (also called chief executive), and to the governors of states.
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society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > [noun] > the executive or the legislature
parliament1427
legislaturea1676
executive1787
exec1896
1787 Resolution 1 June in Jrnl. Fed. Conv. (1819) 89 Resolved, That a national executive to consist of a single person be instituted.
1787 Randolph in G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. (1885) VI. 213 A national executive chosen by the national legislature and ineligible a second time.
1811 J. Quincy Speech 30 Jan. (1874) 242 It may be admitted that all executives for the time being are virtuous.
1855 A. Barnes Way Salvation xi. 138 It might contribute much..to dispose an executive to pardon an offender if he was satisfied that he was truly penitent.
1876 J. A. Garfield Speech Policy Pacif. in `'E. Kirke’ Life J. A. Garfield 30/2 Our great military chieftain [Grant]..had command as chief executive during eight years of..eventful administration.
1876 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. (rev. ed.) VI. 294 The executive was henceforward [from 6 Aug. 1787] known as the ‘President’.
1891 Nation (N.Y.) 5 Nov. 345/1 A Governor who had shown himself one of the best executives the State has ever had.
2. transferred. Any administrative body.
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society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > manager or administrator > body of or collectively
management1740
executive1868
executory1868
1868 W. Peard Pract. Water-farming ix. 100 Sixteen shillings per week to each water-keeper, would..secure a grateful, and honest executive.
1884 Law Rep.: Chancery Div. 26 133 Directors, who were to form the executive of the association.
3. A person holding an executive position in a business organization; a person skilled in executive or administrative work; a business man. Also attributive. Originally U.S.
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society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > non-manual worker > businessman > [noun] > executive
executive1902
exec1933
1902 G. H. Lorimer Lett. Merchant 22 They will never climb over the railing that separates the clerks from the executives.
1923 W. L. Stidger Henry Ford 35 During the financial depression some of the Ford executives insisted upon borrowing money to tide over.
1930 B. Colby Close of Wilson's Admin. 17 Decisions were..reached..with a rapid ease that marked the born executive.
1930 Monotype Recorder Special No. Mar.–Apr. 5 Chosen as the chief executive of one of our most important industries.
1936 J. B. Priestley They walk in City i. 6 Mr. Welkinghurst, who knew his business, spotted it at once. So did all the executives, of course.
1951 M. McLuhan Mech. Bride 35/1 Do you have a personality? Our executive clinic will get rid of it for you.
1958 Spectator 7 Feb. 173/1 The type of men who used to go into union politics..are now becoming technicians, administrators and executives.
1958 Manch. Guardian 20 Mar. 10/3 In New York..over two thousand business banquets were held last year, involving three to four million executive man-hours.
1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 6 Feb. 74/3 He is away from the sophisticated anxieties of his executive suite, and back in Aunt Mabel's brown-stone house on 62nd Street.
1962 Guardian 5 Oct. 15/2 The comforts of executive-class prosperity.
1968 ‘R. Simons’ Death on Display xv. 77 Most of the cars parked in the driveways were large, new and expensive, and it was the kind of area that estate agents describe gladly as ‘executive class’.
Draft additions October 2001
executive decision n. an (esp. important or far-reaching) decision made and implemented by a person or body with executive power; (also in weakened or ironic use) esp. a decision regarded as domineering or unilateral, or relatively trivial.
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the mind > will > decision > [noun] > (a) resolution or decision > formal or collective
resolution1545
resolve1649
executive decision1891
1845 Amer. Rev. Dec. 551/1 The Senate, as part of the treaty-making power, is, for the second time in this matter, to be ousted of its exclusive prerogative, and Congress must determine whether or not they will sustain the Executive decision, and stand by all the consequences.]
1891 Polit. Sci. Q. 6 249 Mr. E. J. Phelps, late minister to England, was the first to recognize the importance of making accessible these executive decisions.
1961 Jrnl. Health & Human Behavior 2 14/1 Although the members of the clinical research department do not make executive decisions in the realm of marketing, sales and advertising, they are called upon to advise these departments concerned with the business promotion of drugs.
1989 Scene on TV (Brisbane) 2 Apr. 9/1 Jason Donovan has to make an executive decision in Neighbours this week. Will he stick to his Gold Logie 1988 winner or will he be charmed by the Cheezels commercial girl?
1997 A. Wood EastEnders (BBC TV script) (O.E.D. Archive) Episode 561. 41 Roy. I felt so stupid. He assumed I knew all about it. Barry. He was slacking Dad. Costing us money... I made an executive decision alright? What's the big deal?
Draft additions October 2001
executive toy n. a decorative desk accessory, esp. a mechanical gadget, with no function but to amuse, relax, or divert; (in extended use, often depreciative) a typically expensive item (esp. of business equipment) regarded as desirable and somewhat prestigious, but with questionable practical application or value.
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1971 Times 8 Jan. 8/2 An executive toy can mean—and has meant—anything from worry beads to a laughing box.
1981 Electronics 10 Mar. 80/1 It has been hailed as the ultimate executive toy, but at around $7,900 the Zilog Z80-based system has to earn its keep.
1990 J. Eberts & T. Ilott My Indecision is Final xxxv. 346 There is no macho leather or mahogany, and there are no executive toys.
1999 Daily Tel. 9 Sept. 14/2 Sub-notebooks—extremely thin or shrunken versions of the notebook, portable but often more of an executive toy than a useful tool.
Draft additions September 2016
executive chef n. (a title for) a senior chef, typically having overall responsibility for the kitchen, staff, menu, etc.; = chef de cuisine n.; (now also) such a chef who manages several restaurants.
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the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > cooking > cook > [noun] > head cook or supervisor
surveyora1475
cosyner1533
kitchen artista1661
chef de cuisine1798
arch-magirist1814
chef1826
executive chef1902
1902 Carbondale (Illinois) Free Press 17 Dec. 5/5 Mrs. Abigail Adams herself performed the functions of executive chef. Wearing an immaculate apron, she busied herself giving directions first to one negro servant, and then to another.
1949 N.Y. Times 12 Nov. 19 Grand prize for artistic buffet went to Hermann Rusch, executive chef, Lexington Hotel, New York.
2015 Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) (Nexis) 16 Oct. a11 The New Yorker is the owner and executive chef of several restaurants, including Mesa Grill in Las Vegas and the Bahamas.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1646