Reprieve — Defs

01 v. t. To delay the punishment of; to suspend the execution of sentence on; to give a respite to; to respite; as, to reprieve a criminal for thirt…

imp. & p. p. Reprieved; p. pr. & vb. n. Reprieving

1.
To delay the punishment of; to suspend the execution of sentence on; to give a respite to; to respite; as, to reprieve a criminal for thirty days.
“He reprieves the sinnner from time to time.” — Rogers.
2.
To relieve for a time, or temporarily.
“Company, thought it may reprieve a man from his melaneholy yet can not secure him from his conscience.” — South.

02 n. A temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence, especially of a sentence of death.

1.
A temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence, especially of a sentence of death.
“The morning Sir John Hotham was to die, a reprieve was sent to suspend the execution for three days.” — Clarendon.
2.
Interval of ease or relief; respite.
“All that I ask is but a short reprieve, ll I forget to love, and learn to grieve.” — Denham.