Reprieve
[rɪ'priːv] or [rɪ'priv]
Definition
(noun.) the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment.
(noun.) a warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence).
(noun.) a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort.
(verb.) relieve temporarily.
(verb.) postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution.
Inputed by Carlo--From WordNet
Definition
(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 thirty days.
(v. t.) To relieve for a time, or temporarily.
(n.) A temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence, especially of a sentence of death.
(n.) Interval of ease or relief; respite.
Typed by Barnaby
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. Respite, delay the punishment of, give a respite to.
n. Respite, suspension of punishment.
Checker: Witt
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Respite, acquittal, suspension, delay, interval, pardon, amnesty, intermission
ANT:Condemnation, conviction, reprisal, retribution
Editor: Timmy
Definition
v.t. to delay the execution of a criminal: to give a respite to: (obs.) acquit release.—n. a suspension of a criminal sentence: interval of ease or relief.—n. Repriev′al.
Typist: Ludwig
Unserious Contents or Definition
To be under sentence in a dream and receive a reprieve, foretells that you will overcome some difficulty which is causing you anxiety. For a young woman to dream that her lover has been reprieved, denotes that she will soon hear of some good luck befalling him, which will be of vital interest to her.
Checked by Jennie
Examples
- The first symptom of the disease was the death-warrant, which in no single instance had been followed by pardon or reprieve. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Jane would have begged for a further reprieve, had it not been that she too had begun to believe that her forest lover would return no more. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- Shirley, never sorry to snatch a reprieve from their society, had remained behind, detained by business, as she said. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- He knew the reprieved feeling he had felt when the _Ingl閟_ had told him he was to go with the message. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
Checked by Clive