reprieve
1re·prieve
verb \ri-ˈprēv\re·prievedre·priev·ing
Definition of REPRIEVE
transitive verb
1
: to delay the punishment of (as a condemned prisoner)
2
: to give relief or deliverance to for a time
Examples of REPRIEVE
- He was sentenced to death but then reprieved.
- The library has been reprieved and will remain open for at least another year.
- And many murderers have been reprieved because they were condemned for the wrong murder, quite probably just as many as have been executed for the only murder they did not in fact commit. —Christopher Hitchens, Nation, 14 May 2001
- In a postscript to the very same letter, he added, ‘If he must die, it were charity to reprieve him till Saturday.’ If there had been any doubt of his fate, this weakness and meanness would have settled it. The very next day, which was the twelfth of May, he was brought out to be beheaded on Tower Hill. —Charles Dickens, A Child's History of England, 1854
- [+]more
Origin of REPRIEVE
probably blend of obsolete repreve to reprove (from Middle English) and obsolete repry to remand, postpone, from Anglo-French repri-, past stem of reprendre to take back
First Known Use: 1596
Other Government and Politics Terms
Rhymes with REPRIEVE
Learn More About REPRIEVE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: reprimand (noun)
Previous Word in the Dictionary: reprieval
All Words Near: reprieve
Previous Word in the Dictionary: reprieval
All Words Near: reprieve
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up reprieve? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).






See 

