reprieve

English

Alternative forms

• repryve (obsolete), reprive (rare)

Etymology

1571, in sense of “to take back to prison”, from Middle English repryen (“to remand, detain”) (1494), probably from Middle French repris, form of reprendre (“take back”); cognate to reprise. Sense generalized, but retains connotations of punishment and execution. Noun attested 1598.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈpɹiːv/

• Audio (US)

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• Hyphenation: re‧prieve

Verb

reprieve (third-person singular simple present reprieves, present participle reprieving, simple past and past participle reprieved)

1. (transitive) To cancel or postpone the punishment of someone, especially an execution.
2. (transitive) To bring relief to someone.
   • 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: J Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, , published 1727, →OCLC:

     Company […] may reprieve a man from his melancholy, yet it cannot secure him from his conscience.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To take back to prison (in lieu of execution).
4. To abandon or postpone plans to close, withdraw or abolish (something).
   • 1960 August, L. Hyland, “The Irish Scene”, in Trains Illustrated, page 468:

     At the time of writing the halts have been reprieved due to doubts as to the legality of the withdrawal of services. It is feared that this reprieve may not outlast the summer timetable which, on the section in question, provides only a skeleton of the former service.

Derived terms

• reprieval

Related terms

Translations

Noun

reprieve (plural reprieves)

1. The cancellation or postponement of a punishment.

   The prisoner was saved from execution; the governor had requested a reprieve.

2. A document authorizing such an action.
3. Relief from pain etc., especially temporary.
   • 2015 February 24, Daniel Taylor, “Luis Suárez strikes twice as Barcelona teach Manchester City a lesson”, in The Guardian (London)‎:

     Yet it was not easy, on the balance of play, to be convinced by Pellegrini and his defeated players that the reprieve might somehow be a defining moment over the two legs.

4. A cancellation or postponement of a proposed event undesired by many.
   • 1960 August, L. Hyland, “The Irish Scene”, in Trains Illustrated, page 468:

     At the time of writing the halts have been reprieved due to doubts as to the legality of the withdrawal of services. It is feared that this reprieve may not outlast the summer timetable which, on the section in question, provides only a skeleton of the former service.

   • 2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 53:

     And it said there was no reprieve for 435 stations already approved for closure before the report appeared.

Translations

References