Ekzekuton

Ekzekuton is the accusative singular form of the Esperanto noun ekzekuto, meaning the act of executing a sentence or carrying out an execution. In legal, historical, and literary contexts, it refers to the actual enforcement of punishment, such as capital punishment, or to the act of carrying out an order or plan.

Etymology and grammar: The word ekzekuto is built from the verb ekzekuti (to execute) with the nominal suffix -o. The accusative form adds -n, yielding ekzekuton for use as a direct object in a sentence. For example: La tribunalo ordonis la ekzekuton de la kondamnito. In many non-punitive uses, ekzekuto serves as the more general term for the act of execution; ekzekuto can be used without requiring the accusative form when the act is the subject or a non-object.

Usage notes: Ekzekuton appears most often when the act is being referred to as a thing that is to be performed or has been performed, rather than as a general concept. When speaking about the concept of execution in a broad sense, homographs like ekzekuto or verbs like ekzekuti are commonly used. In computing or other non-penalty contexts, the related verb form ekzekuti is used to mean to execute, with ekzekuto as the noun for the act.

See also: ekzekuto, ekzekuti.