reprieve

UK: /rɪˈpriːv/ US: /rɪˈpriv/ ,(ri prēv′)

Inflections of 'reprieve' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

reprieves

v 3rd person singular

reprieving

v pres p

reprieved

v past

reprieved

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•prieve /rɪˈpriv/   v., -prieved, -priev•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to delay the coming or expected punishment or sentence of (a condemned person):
   The governor reprieved the prisoner on death row.

n. [countable]

2. an official order or formal authorization to delay or cancel punishment, esp. execution.
3. any temporary relief from something bad.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•prieve  (ri prēv′), v., -prieved, -priev•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to delay the impending punishment or sentence of (a condemned person).
2. to relieve temporarily from any evil.

n. 

3. a respite from impending punishment, as from execution of a sentence of death.
4. a warrant authorizing this.
5. any respite or temporary relief.

• Old French reprit (see reprise)
• perh. conflation of Middle English repreven to reprove, apparently taken in literal sense "to test again'' (involving postponement), and Middle English repried (past participle) 1300–50

re•priev′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. See pardon. 
• 5. delay, postponement, stay, deferment.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

reprieve / rɪˈpriːv/ verb (transitive)

1. to postpone or remit the punishment of (a person, esp one condemned to death)
2. to give temporary relief to (a person or thing), esp from otherwise irrevocable harm

noun

1. a postponement or remission of punishment, esp of a person condemned to death
2. a warrant granting a postponement
3. a temporary relief from pain or harm; respite

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French repris (something) taken back, from reprendre to take back, from Latin reprehendere; perhaps also influenced by obsolete English repreve to reprove

reˈprievable adjective

reˈpriever noun