exact: [15] The adjective exact ‘precise’ and the verb exact ‘demand with severity’ have undergone considerable semantic divergence over the centuries, but they both go back to the same source, the Latin verb exigere (from which English also got essay, examine, exigent [15], and exiguous [17]). This, a compound of the prefix ex- ‘out’ and agere ‘lead, drive’ (source of English act and agent), meant originally ‘drive out’, but in due course it developed the metaphorical senses ‘demand’ (preserved in the English verb), ‘weigh accurately’, and ‘bring to completion or perfection’.
These last two were taken up adjectivally in the Latin past participle exactus, from which English gets exact. => act, agent, essay, examine
exact (adj.)
"precise, rigorous, accurate," 1530s, from Latin exactus "precise, accurate, highly finished," past participle adjective from exigere "demand, require, enforce," literally "to drive or force out," also "finish, measure," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + agere "drive, lead, act" (see act (n.)).
exact (v.)
mid-15c., from Latin exactus, past participle of exigere "require, enforce, demand, collect (money);" see exact (adj.). Older in English than the adjective and retaining the literal sense of the Latin source. Related: Exacted; exacting.
双语例句
1. The exact locations are being kept secret for reasons of security.
确切地点因为安全原因要保密。
来自柯林斯例句
2. A small number — five, to be exact—have been bad.
一小部分——确切地说是5个——已经坏了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Charles scored again, with an exact duplicate of his first goal.
查尔斯再次得分,与第一次破门如出一辙.
来自柯林斯例句
4. Find the exact grip that allows you to hit the ball hard.
找到能让你大力击球的准确握拍方法。
来自柯林斯例句
5. It has taken until now to pin down its exact location.
