Ex*act" (?), a. [L. exactus
precise, accurate, p. p. of exigere to drive out, to demand,
enforce, finish, determine, measure; ex out + agere to
drive; cf. F. exact. See Agent, Act.]
1. 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. )
2. 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.
3. Precisely or definitely conceived or
stated; strict.
An exact command,
Larded with many several sorts of reason.
Shak.
Ex*act", v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Exacted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exacting.] [From L. exactus, p. p. of exigere;
or fr. LL. exactare: cf. OF. exacter. See Exact,
a.] 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", v. i. To practice
exaction. [R.]
The anemy shall not exact upon
him.
Ps. lxxxix. 22.
