REPRIEVE

I. transitive verb (~d; reprieving) Etymology: 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 Date: 1596 to delay the punishment of (as a condemned prisoner), to give relief or deliverance to for a time, II. noun Date: 1592 1. the act of reprieving ; the state of being ~d, a formal temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence especially of death, an order or warrant for a ~, a temporary respite (as from pain or trouble)