RESPITE

respite, recess, break, time out

(noun) a pause from doing something (as work); “we took a 10-minute break”; “he took time out to recuperate”

reprieve, respite

(noun) the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment

suspension, respite, reprieve, hiatus, abatement

(noun) an interruption in the intensity or amount of something

reprieve, respite

(noun) a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort

respite, rest, relief, rest period

(noun) a pause for relaxation; “people actually accomplish more when they take time for short rests”

reprieve, respite

(verb) postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

respite (countable and uncountable, plural respites)

A brief interval of rest or relief.

(legal) A reprieve, especially from a sentence of death.

(legal) The delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term.

Synonyms

• (brief interval): hiatus, moratorium, recess; see also pause

Verb

respite (third-person singular simple present respites, present participle respiting, simple past and past participle respited)

(transitive) To delay or postpone (an event).

(transitive) To allow (a person) extra time to fulfil some obligation.

Anagrams

• speerit, spreite

Source: Wiktionary


Res"pite (rs"pt), n. Etym: [OF. respit, F. répit, from L. respectus respect, regard, delay, in LL., the deferring of a day. See Respect.]

1. A putting off of that which was appointed; a postponement or delay. I crave but four day's respite. Shak.

2. Temporary intermission of labor, or of any process or operation; interval of rest; pause; delay. "Without more respite." Chaucer. Some pause and respite only I require. Denham.

3. (Law) (a) Temporary suspension of the execution of a capital offender; reprieve. (b) The delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term.

Syn.

– Pause; interval; stop; cessation; delay; postponement; stay; reprieve.

Res"pite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Respited; p. pr. & vb. n. Respiting.] Etym: [OF. respiter, LL. respectare. See Respite, n.]

Definition: To give or grant a respite to. Specifically: (a) To delay or postpone; to put off. (b) To keep back from execution; to reprieve. Forty days longer we do respite you. Shak.

(c) To relieve by a pause or interval of rest. "To respite his day labor with repast." Milton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

3 June 2025

OWNER

(noun) (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business; “he is the owner of a chain of restaurants”


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Coffee Trivia

Plain brewed coffee contains almost no calories, while coffee with dairy products, sugar, and other flavorings is much higher in calories. An espresso has 20 calories. A nonfat latte has 72, while a flavored one has 134.

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