Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To prevent or suspend the punishment of (someone, especially a convicted criminal).
- intransitive verb To prevent or suspend (a punishment).
- intransitive verb To bring relief to.
- intransitive verb To prevent the imposition of a scheduled or expected punishment, especially temporarily.
- noun The prevention or suspension of a scheduled or expected punishment.
- noun A court order or other official notification preventing or suspending a scheduled or expected punishment.
- noun Temporary relief, as from danger or pain.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To acquit; set free; release.
- To grant a respite to; suspend or delay the execution of for a time: as, to
reprieve a criminal for thirty days. - To relieve for a time from any danger or suffering; respite; spare; save.
- To secure a postponement of (an execution).
- Synonyms See the noun.
- noun The suspension of the execution of a criminal's sentence.
- noun Respite in general; interval of ease or relief; delay of something dreaded.
- noun Synonyms Reprieve, Respite. Reprieve is now used chiefly in the sense of the first definition, to name a suspension or postponement of the execution of a sentence of death. Respite is a free word, applying to an intermission or postponement of something wearying, burdensome, or troublesome: as, respite from work. Respite may be for an indefinite or a definite time; a reprieve is generally for a time named. A respite may be a reprieve.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence, especially of a sentence of death.
- noun Interval of ease or relief; respite.
- transitive verb To delay the punishment of; to suspend the execution of sentence on; to give a respite to; to respite.
- transitive verb To relieve for a time, or temporarily.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive To
cancel orpostpone thepunishment of someone, especially anexecution . - verb transitive To bring
relief to someone. - verb transitive, obsolete To take back to
prison (in lieu ofexecution ). - noun The
cancellation orpostponement of a punishment. - noun A
document authorizing such an action. - noun Relief from
pain etc., especiallytemporary .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment
- noun an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
- noun a warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence)
- noun a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
- verb postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution
- verb relieve temporarily
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Political correctness, diversity policies, and multiculturalism are forms of deference that give whites and institutions a way to prove the negative and win reprieve from the racist stigma. martindavis
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Men are apt to think that a reprieve is the forerunner of a pardon, and that if judgment be not speedily executed it is, or will be, certainly reversed.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721
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Despite getting a reprieve from the Supreme Court, which allowed it to mine in undisputed areas, the company was again blocked by the local government.
The Bellary Minefield Prince Mathews Thomas 2010
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At a press conference a few days later, he was still going, this time on the subject of O'Loughlin's reprieve from the disciplinary committee.
My Super League awards show Andy Wilson 2010
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Republican gains in Congress will likely give Wall Street only a limited reprieve from the sweeping financial overhaul signed into law in July, while exposing banks and securities firms to heightened risk of hostile rhetoric from tea-party lawmakers.
Reprieve for Wall Street Is Expected to Be Limited Jean Eaglesham 2010
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Despite getting a reprieve from the Supreme Court, which allowed it to mine in undisputed areas, the company was again blocked by the local government.
The Bellary Minefield Prince Mathews Thomas 2010
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But many fund managers see the dollar's recent gains as nothing more than a short-term reprieve.
How to Hedge Your Exposure to the Dollar Reshma Kapadia 2011
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You get all the comforts of cabin life – a bed, reprieve from the bugs, and weather – while still being able to connect to the surrounding nature.
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Will the American people look at it as a day of reprieve from a mailbox full of bills and junk mail?
Is the Post Office Singing Their Swan Song? | myFiveBest 2010
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Lawmakers also declined to grant a reprieve from a $5.5 billion payment to prefund USPS retiree health benefits.
Federal Eye: Postal Service anticipates $6 billion year-end loss washingtonpost.com 2010
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