\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.