1. (law) the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment
   "The governor granted a last-minute reprieve to the condemned man";
   - respite
    
2. (law) a warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence)
   "The governor issued a last-minute reprieve for the condemned prisoner"
    
3. A (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
   "The cool breeze offered a brief reprieve from the summer heat";
   - respite
    
4. An interruption in the intensity or amount of something
   "The storm provided a brief reprieve from the oppressive heat";
   - suspension, respite, hiatus, abatement

1. Postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution
   "The governor reprieved the prisoner's execution for 30 days";
   - respite
    
2. Relieve temporarily
   "The unexpected extension reprieved the students from submitting their assignments for another week"

Derived forms: reprieved, reprieves, reprieving

Type of: break, clemency, defer, deliver, ease, hold over, interruption, mercifulness, mercy, postpone, prorogue, put back, put off, put over, relief, remit, rescue, set back, shelve, table [N. Amer], warrant

Encyclopedia: Reprieve