I. igˈzakt, eg- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English exacten, from Latin exactus, past participle of exigere to drive out, demand, exact (payment), weigh, measure, from ex- ex- (I) + -igere (from agere to drive, lead, act, do) — more at agent
transitive verb
1. : to demand and force or compel (payment, surrender, concession, performance, compliance) : wring , extort , wrest
from them has been exacted the ultimate sacrifice — D.D.Eisenhower
qualms which exacted rites of expiation — John Dewey
2. : to require despite difficulty or reluctance : call for as necessary, appropriate, or desirable
a task so delicate exacts the scholar and philosopher — B.N.Cardozo
3. archaic : to draw (as a meaning) out : extract
intransitive verb
obsolete : to practice exaction
Synonyms: see demand
II. adjective
( often -er/-est )
Etymology: Latin exactus, from past participle of exigere
1. : exhibiting or characterized by strict, particular, and complete accordance with fact, truth, or an established standard or original : devoid of any addition, subtraction, or other variation from fact or a standard
the exact time
not only is exact description difficult — Aldous Huxley
an exact account of the quarrel
extremely exact in conduct
2. : characterized or marked by thorough consideration or minute measurement of small factual details usually leading to incontestably true conclusions : not incomplete or approximate
a power of intuition greater than that of an exact investigator — Havelock Ellis
the exact measurements of physical science
Synonyms: see correct