From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Respite \Res"pite\ (r?s"p?t), n. [OF. respit, F. r['e]pit, 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.
[1913 Webster]
I crave but four day's respite. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. Temporary intermission of labor, or of any process or
operation; interval of rest; pause; delay. "Without more
respite." --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
Some pause and respite only I require. --Denham.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Pause; interval; stop; cessation; delay; postponement;
stay; reprieve.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Respite \Res"pite\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Respited}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Respiting}.] [OF. respiter, LL. respectare. See
{Respite}, n.]
To give or grant a respite to. Specifically:
(a) To delay or postpone; to put off.
(b) To keep back from execution; to reprieve.
[1913 Webster]
Forty days longer we do respite you. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
(c) To relieve by a pause or interval of rest. "To respite
his day labor with repast." --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
respite
n 1: a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort [syn:
{reprieve}, {respite}]
2: a pause from doing something (as work); "we took a 10-minute
break"; "he took time out to recuperate" [syn: {respite},
{recess}, {break}, {time out}]
3: an interruption in the intensity or amount of something [syn:
{suspension}, {respite}, {reprieve}, {hiatus}, {abatement}]
4: a pause for relaxation; "people actually accomplish more when
they take time for short rests" [syn: {respite}, {rest},
{relief}, {rest period}]
5: the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment
[syn: {reprieve}, {respite}]
v 1: postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an
execution [syn: {reprieve}, {respite}]
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