Executory

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɪɡˈzɛk.jʊ.tə.ɹi/

Definitions

1. Referring to commitments or responsibilities outlined in a contract that still need to be executed
2. Pertaining to duties or agreements that have been made but are still pending completion
3. Describing tasks or promises under a contract that remain outstanding and require fulfillment

Etymology: "Executory" comes from Latin "execūtōrius", meaning "relating to execution" or "carrying out", from the verb "exsequi" and its past participle "executus", "to follow out" or "carry through to the end". The Latin root is "sequi", "to follow", so the verb has the sense of pursuing an action all the way to completion. The Middle English form kept that sense of carrying something out, which is why the word was first used of duties and powers that were to be performed. In legal usage, an executory contract or interest is one whose obligations are still waiting to be performed, as opposed to an executed one where everything has already been done. The word is the adjective "executory" with the Latin suffix "-ory", meaning "pertaining to", which is also found in words like "advisory" and "compulsory".

Synonyms: performing, obligatory, enforceable, operative, effective