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