Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EX-EC'U-TIVE, a. [egzec'utive.]

Having the quality of executing or performing; as, executive power or authority; an executive officer. Hence, in government, executive is used in distinction from legislative and judicial. The body that deliberates and enacts laws, is legislative; the body that judges, or applies the laws to particular cases, is judicial; the body or person who carries the laws into effect, or superintends the enforcement of them, is executive. It is of the nature of war to increase the executive at expense of the legislative authority. – Federalist, Hamilton.