reprieve

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To cancel or postpone the punishment of someone, especially an execution.
2. (transitive) To bring relief to someone.
3. (obsolete, transitive) To take back to prison (in lieu of execution).
4. (transitive) To abandon or postpone plans to close, withdraw or abolish (something).

Noun

1. The cancellation or postponement of a punishment.
2. A document authorizing such an action.
3. Relief from pain etc., especially temporary.
4. A cancellation or postponement of a proposed event undesired by many.

Synonyms

respite

pardon

amnesty

suspension

grace

abatement

hiatus

adjournment

stay

relief

redeem

postponement

forgiveness

grace period

lull

moratorium

procrastination

relieve

remission

remit

rest

surcease

abate

grant respite

absolve

alleviation

commute

continuance

deferment

deferral

delay

exception

excuse

extension

forgive

Translations

respiro

indulto

sursis

respiro

dilazionare

Begnadigung

uitstel

Gnadenfrist

répit

grâce

opschorting

begnadigen

fare una tregua

tregua

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɪˈpɹiːv/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: repryen

In summary

First use appears c. 1513 in the writings of Robert Fabyan. In the sense of “to take back to prison”, from Middle English repryen (“to remand, detain”) (1494), possibly from Middle French repris, in the form of reprendre (“take back”); a cognate to reprise. The sense has become generalized, but does retain connotations of punishment and execution. The noun's first use appears c. 1592.