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Webster 1913 Edition

Reprieve

Re-prieve

(r?-pr?v′)
,
Verb.
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.

Re-prieve′

(r?-pr?v′)
,
Noun.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Reprieve

REPRIE'VE

,
Verb.
T.
[I know not the origin of this word.]
1.
To respit after sentence of death; to suspend or delay the execution of for a time; as, to reprieve a criminal for thirty days.
He reprieves the sinner from time to time.
2.
To grant a respit to; to relieve for a time for any suffering.
Company, though it may reprieve a man from his melancholy, yet cannot secure a man from his conscience.

REPRIE'VE

, n.
1.
The temporary suspension of the execution of sentence of death on a criminal.
2.
Respit; interval of ease or relief.
All that I ask is but a short reprieve, till I forgot to love, and learn to grieve.

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