Exigere

Exigere is a Latin verb of the third conjugation meaning to drive out or forth, and in a broader range to demand, require, or exact. The word also carries senses of collecting what is owed and, in some uses, completing or finishing a task. In usage, exigere appears with a direct object to express demanding or collecting something such as money, tribute, or service, and it can be used in contexts that emphasize forcing the due result or outcome.

Etymology and forms: Exigere is built from the prefix ex- “out” and the root agere “to drive, to lead, to do.” The principal parts are exigo, exigere, exegi, exactum. The infinitive is exigere; the present system forms include exigo, exigis, exigit, exigimus, exigitis, exigunt. The passive infinitive exigi means “to be demanded” or “to be required.” The supine form is exactum, and the perfect passive participle is exactus, used to form perfect passive constructions.

Usage and nuance: In classical Latin, exigere encompasses several related actions: to demand something from someone, to exact a payment or service, to collect dues, and to complete or accomplish a goal. The sense often carries a sense of obligation or compulsion, sometimes with legal or authoritative overtones. In English, derivatives such as exigent (urgent, requiring immediate attention), exaction (the act of demanding and obtaining something, especially money), and exact (to demand and obtain) derive from the same root.

See also: exaction, exigency, exigent, exact. These terms reflect related concepts of demand, urgency, and precision, rooted in the same Latin verb.

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