Dictionary Information: Definition Reprieve - Description Meaning Thesaurus

Reprieve (Re*prieve) (r?-pr?v"), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Reprieved (-pr?vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Reprieving.]
[OE. repreven to reject, disallow, OF. reprover to blame, reproach, condemn (pres. il reprueve), F. réprouver to disapprove, fr. L. reprobare to reject, condemn; pref. re- re- + probare to try, prove. See Prove, and cf. Reprove, Reprobate.]

1. To delay the punishment of; to suspend the execution of sentence on; to give a respite to; to respite; as, to reprieve a criminal for thirty days. "He reprieves the sinnner from time to time." Rogers.
2. To relieve for a time, or temporarily. "Company, thought it may reprieve a man from his melaneholy yet can not secure him from his conscience." South.

Reprieve (Re*prieve") (r?-pr?v"), n.

1. A temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence, especially of a sentence of death. "The morning Sir John Hotham was to die, a reprieve was sent to suspend the execution for three days." Clarendon.
2. Interval of ease or relief; respite. "All that I ask is but a short reprieve, ll I forget to love, and learn to grieve." Denham.