reprieve

Meanings

Verb

• To cancel or postpone the punishment of someone, especially an execution.
• To bring relief to someone.
• To take back to prison (in lieu of execution).
• To abandon or postpone plans to close, withdraw or abolish (something).

Noun

• The cancellation or postponement of a punishment.
• A document authorizing such an action.
• Relief from pain etc., especially temporary.
• A cancellation or postponement of a proposed event undesired by many.

Origin

• 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; cognate to reprise. Sense generalized, but retains connotations of punishment and execution. Noun attested 1598. Compare to Latin privare.