Category:Respite

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.

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

Defn: 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.