reprieve Hear it!

reprieve Definition

re·prieve (ri prēv′)

transitive verb -·prieved′, -·priev′·ing

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

Etymology: 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.,

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

  • re-price
reprieve Synonyms

reprieve

n.

postponement, stay, respite, release; see acquittal, freeing, pardon 3, respite.

reprieve Synonyms

reprieve

v.

  1. To postpone punishment of

    pardon, spare, grant a stay of execution; see delay 1, excuse.

  2. To alleviate

    comfort, lessen, soothe; see relieve 2.

reprieve Law Definition

n

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.
reprieve Usage Examples

Preposition: from

  • closure: Recently reprieved from closure, the Zoo has two lovely rooms for your Wedding Ceremony.
  • threat: Blackberry users got a reprieve from threats of sales call service disruption as the NTP patent case came to a close.

Converse of object

  • win: BECTU wins pensions reprieve Union action has secured a reprieve for pension scheme members at Crown Castle.
  • grant: Some lenders are granting a 30-day reprieve; some, six months.
  • earn: After finishing bottom of the table, Scarborough earned a brief reprieve when Altrincham were docked 18 points for fielding an ineligible player.
  • give: Smaller sites have been given a reprieve in government plans to cut gasoline fumes at the pump.
  • get: Then you might get some reprieve from the monotony you all keep complaining about - just a polite suggestion.
  • gain: Amidst our protests, 3 centers gained a reprieve of a month's consultation.

Adjective modifier

  • last-minute: However, Education Minister Charles Clark granted a last-minute reprieve, overturning the County Council's decision.
  • temporary: January 2002 More than 1,000 failed asylum seekers facing expulsion from Britain to Zimbabwe are handed a temporary reprieve by Home Secretary David Blunkett.
  • brief: During the brief reprieve, the basement had filled with people seeking shelter, some of whom were wounded from bomb shrapnel.
  • welcome: With such a hectic itinerary, our stay at Coconut Lagoon was a welcome reprieve.
  • last: There will be no rescue for them, no last minute reprieve.
  • short: Here Jesus promises this man not a short reprieve for this life but heaven for all eternity.

Modifies a noun

  • volunteer: The work of Reprieve Volunteers in the London office can be extremely varied depending upon the needs of the office at the particular time.
  • fellowship: However candidates can apply for both a one-year Reprieve Fellowship and a two-year Reprieve Fellowship in the same application cycle.

Noun used with modifier

  • minute: There will be no rescue for them, no last minute reprieve.
  • hour: Press Release For Immediate use: Eleventh hour reprieve for Lincoln granny.
  • charity: Clive Stafford Smith, legal director of the charity Reprieve, said: " All this secret abuse of prisoners is very dangerous.
  • day: The Board of Pardons receives a telegram from President Wilson requesting a fresh trial and as a result 14 days reprieve are granted.