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Today it means

exact

precise; to demand

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Where does the word "exact" come from? It comes from Latin exigere, passing through Latin before entering English (1530s).

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Where does the word "exact" come from? It comes from Latin exigere, passing through Latin before entering English (1530s).

Exact’s story begins in Latin: exigere meant “to drive out, demand.” 'ex-' plus 'agere', to drive. Within Latin, it grew into exactus by ancient. Past participle of 'exigere', weighed out exactly. It reached English by 1530s as exact. To 'exact' revenge keeps the 'demand' sense. Today, exact means precise; to demand.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient exigere "to drive out, demand", 'ex-' plus 'agere', to drive.
  2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient exactus "precisely weighed", past participle of 'exigere', weighed out exactly.
  3. Stage 3 · English · 1530s exact "precise", to 'exact' revenge keeps the 'demand' sense.

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