Origin: 1400–50; late Middle English exacten (v.) < Latin exāctus (past participle of exigere drive out, thrust out), equivalent to ex-ex-1 + ag(ere) to drive + -tus past participle suffix
"precise, rigorous, accurate," 1530s, from L. exactus, pp. of exigere, lit. "to drive or force out," also "demand, finish, measure," from ex- "out" + agere "drive, lead, act" (see act). The verb (late 14c., implied in exaction) is older in English and represents the literal