REPRIEVE

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does reprieve mean? 

• REPRIEVE (noun)
  The noun REPRIEVE has 4 senses:

1. a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort

2. an interruption in the intensity or amount of something

3. a warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence)

4. the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment

  Familiarity information: REPRIEVE used as a noun is uncommon.

• REPRIEVE (verb)
  The verb REPRIEVE has 2 senses:

1. postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution

2. relieve temporarily

  Familiarity information: REPRIEVE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REPRIEVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

reprieve; respite

Hypernyms ("reprieve" is a kind of...):

ease; relief (the condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress))

Derivation:

reprieve (relieve temporarily)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An interruption in the intensity or amount of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

abatement; hiatus; reprieve; respite; suspension

Hypernyms ("reprieve" is a kind of...):

break; interruption (some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reprieve"):

defervescence (abatement of a fever as indicated by a reduction in body temperature)

remission; remittal; subsidence (an abatement in intensity or degree (as in the manifestations of a disease))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("reprieve" is a kind of...):

warrant (a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

The act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

reprieve; respite

Hypernyms ("reprieve" is a kind of...):

clemency; mercifulness; mercy (leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

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

• REPRIEVE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they reprieve    ... he / she / it reprieves   
Past simple: reprieved   
Past participle: reprieved   
-ing form: reprieving   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

reprieve; respite

Hypernyms (to "reprieve" is one way to...):

defer; hold over; postpone; prorogue; put off; put over; remit; set back; shelve; table (hold back to a later time)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

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

reprieve (a warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Relieve temporarily

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "reprieve" is one way to...):

deliver; rescue (free from harm or evil)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

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

 Context examples 

That he did not regard it as a desperate case, that he did not say a few hours must end it, was at first felt, beyond the hope of most; and the ecstasy of such a reprieve, the rejoicing, deep and silent, after a few fervent ejaculations of gratitude to Heaven had been offered, may be conceived.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)