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reprieve

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The definition of a reprieve is an escape, either permanently or temporarily, from expected punishment or consequences.

(noun)

An example of reprieve is when you should be fired but your boss decides to give you one more chance.

To reprieve is to provide temporary or permanent relief from punishment.

(verb)

An example of reprieve is when you tell your grounded child that he or she can go out after all.

See reprieve in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb reprieved, reprieving

to postpone the punishment of; esp., to postpone the execution of (a person condemned to death)
to give temporary relief to, as from trouble or pain

Origin: earlier repry < Anglo-Fr repris < MFr, pp. of reprendre, to take back, prob. altered by assoc. with ME repreven, reprove

noun

a reprieving or being reprieved; specif.,

postponement of a penalty, esp. that of death; also, a warrant ordering this
a temporary relief or escape, as from trouble or pain

See reprieve in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb re·prieved, re·priev·ing, re·prieves

To postpone or cancel the punishment of.
To bring relief to.

noun

a. Postponement or cancellation of a punishment.
b. A warrant for such an action.
Temporary relief, as from danger or pain.

Origin:

Origin: Alteration (influenced by Middle English repreven, to contradict, variant of reproven, to rebuke)

Origin: of Middle English reprien

Origin: , probably from Old French repris

Origin: , past participle of reprendre, to take back

Origin: , from Latin reprehendere, reprēndere, to hold back; see reprehend

Related Forms:

re·prievˈa·ble adjective

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