Exact

Ex*act"

adjective

Etymology

Low exactus precise, accurate, participle past of exigere to drive out, to demand, enforce, finish, determine, measure; ex out + agere to drive; cf. French exact. See Agent, Act.

Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect; true; correct; precise; as, the clock keeps exact time; he paid the exact debt; an exact copy of a letter; exact accounts.

I took a great pains to make out the exact truth.
— Jowett (Thucyd. )
Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual; as, a man exact in observing an appointment; in my doings I was exact.
“I see thou art exact of taste.” Milton.
Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.

An exact command, Larded with many several sorts of reason.
— Shakespeare

Ex*act"

verb transitive [imperfect & participle past Exacted; participle present & verbal noun Exacting.]

Etymology

From Low exactus, participle past of exigere; or from Low Latin exactare: cf. Old French exacter. See Exact, adjective

To demand or require authoritatively or peremptorily, as a right; to enforce the payment of, or a yielding of; to compel to yield or to furnish; hence, to wrest, as a fee or reward when none is due; — followed by from or of before the one subjected to exaction; as, to exact tribute, fees, obedience, etc., from or of some one.

He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
— Luke. iii. 13.

Years of servise past From grateful souls exact reward at last
— Dryden.

My designs Exact me in another place.
— Massinger.

Ex*act"

verb intransitive

[Rare] To practice exaction.

The anemy shall not exact upon him.
— Psalms lxxxix. 22.

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