Definition

1. Noun:

   • A temporary relief or escape from something unpleasant or difficult: A reprieve is a delay or cancellation of something negative, especially a punishment.
   • An official order that delays or stops the punishment of a prisoner, especially someone sentenced to death: In law, a reprieve is a formal warrant postponing or remitting a sentence.
   • A brief period of rest or relief from trouble or pain: A reprieve can describe a welcome but temporary pause in a difficult situation.

2. Verb:

   • To cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone condemned to death): To officially delay or stop a sentence from being carried out.
   • To give temporary relief from something harmful or unpleasant: To provide a short escape or respite from a difficult condition.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The governor granted the prisoner a last-minute reprieve. (The governor officially delayed the prisoner's punishment.)
  • The rain was a welcome reprieve from the intense summer heat. (The rain provided a temporary break from the heat.)
  • The company's financial troubles continued without reprieve. (The company's problems continued without any pause or relief.)

• Verb:

  • The court decided to reprieve the convict. (The court decided to postpone the convict's punishment.)
  • The ceasefire reprieved the city from further bombardment. (The ceasefire temporarily saved the city from more attacks.)

Advanced Usage

• "A stay of execution": This is a specific legal term closely related to a reprieve, formally postponing a death sentence.

  • The appeal resulted in a stay of execution, a temporary reprieve for the inmate.

• "A brief reprieve": Emphasizes the temporary and short-lived nature of the relief.

  • The medicine offered only a brief reprieve from the pain.

Variants and Related Words

• Respite (n): A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant. This is a close synonym for the "relief" sense of reprieve.
  • The weekend was a brief respite from her demanding job.

Synonyms

• Noun: Respite, pardon, stay, postponement, remission, relief.
• Verb: Pardon, respite, postpone, delay, suspend, relieve.

Related Phrases

• "Grant a reprieve": To officially give or allow a reprieve.

  • The board decided to grant the project a reprieve, extending the deadline by a month.

• "Without reprieve": Continuously, without any pause or relief.

  • The criticism came without reprieve.

Related Idioms

• "A last-minute reprieve": A reprieve given at the final possible moment before something bad happens.
  • The discovery of new evidence provided a last-minute reprieve for the defendant.

Noun

1. the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment
2. a warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence)
3. an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
4. a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort

Verb

1. relieve temporarily
2. postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution