Reprieve Definition

rĭ-prēv
reprieved, reprieves, reprieving
verb
reprieved, reprieves, reprieving
To postpone the punishment of; esp., to postpone the execution of (a person condemned to death)
Webster's New World
To prevent or suspend (a punishment).
American Heritage
To give temporary relief to, as from trouble or pain.
Webster's New World
To prevent the imposition of a scheduled or expected punishment, especially temporarily.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
noun
reprieves
A reprieving or being reprieved.
Webster's New World
The prevention or suspension of a scheduled or expected punishment.
American Heritage
A court order or other official notification preventing or suspending a scheduled or expected punishment.
American Heritage
Temporary relief, as from danger or pain.
American Heritage

A temporary suspension of a criminal sentence (usually the death penalty) for a certain period of time, usually for the purpose of examining new information or permitting an appeal to take place. A reprieve cannot prevent the ultimate carrying out of the judgment. See also clemency, commutation, pardon, and executive clemency.

Webster's New World Law
Synonyms:
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Reprieve

Noun

Singular:
reprieve
Plural:
reprieves

Origin of Reprieve

  • Alteration (influenced by Middle English repreven to contradict) (variant of reproven to rebuke) of Middle English reprien probably from Old French repris past participle of reprendre to take back from Latin reprehendere, reprēndere to hold back reprehend

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • 1571, in sense of “to take back to prison", from Middle English repryen (“to remand, detain") (1494), probably from Middle French repris, form of reprendre (“take back"); cognate to reprise. Sense generalized, but retains connotations of punishment and execution. Noun attested 1598.

    From Wiktionary

Reprieve Sentence Examples

  • He did the dishes as well, hoping for an early reprieve from her justified anger.

  • Grief threatened to consume them, and there would be no reprieve from their anguish.

  • He had already made valuable acquaintances in Edinburgh, and he now visited London, Oxford and Cambridge, and, after a short visit to Edinburgh in 1663, when he sought to secure a reprieve for his uncle Warristoun, he proceeded to travel in France and Holland.

  • There will be no rescue for them, no last minute reprieve.

  • These spoilers allow fans a reprieve from built-up angst generated by watching daily cliffhangers and following emotionally charged storylines.

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Words Starting With

RREREP

Words Ending With

EVEEVE

Unscrambles

reprieve

Words Starting With R and Ending With E

Starts With R & Ends With EStarts With RE & Ends With EStarts With R & Ends With VE

Word Length

8 Letter Words8 Letter Words Starting With R8 Letter Words Ending With E