reprieve
reprieve
Definition
re·prieve (ri prēv′)
transitive verb -·prieved′, -·priev′·ing
- 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
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.,
- postponement of a penalty, esp. that of death; also, a warrant ordering this
- a temporary relief or escape, as from trouble or pain
- re-price
reprieve
Synonyms
reprieve
Synonyms
reprieve
v.
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.
Browse dictionary entries near reprieve
- repressor
- repressive
- repression
- repressed
- repress
- representing
- represented
- representative
- representationalism
- representational
- reprimand
- reprint
- reprisal
- reprise
- repro
- reproach
- reproachful
- reprobate
- reprobation
- reprocess
