reprieve
UK[rɪˈpriːv]US[rɪˈpriːv]
v
To cancel or postpone the punishment, especially the death sentence, of someone.
n
An official order that cancels or delays the punishment of someone, especially a death sentence.
n
A temporary escape from an unpleasant situation or duty.
Etymology
The word 'reprieve' entered English in the late 15th century from the Anglo-French legal term 'repris', the past participle of 'reprendre', meaning 'to take back'. This French verb is a compound of the Latin prefix 're-' (back) and 'prehendere' (to seize). The original, literal sense was to send a prisoner back to custody, delaying immediate execution. Over time, the meaning broadened from this specific legal delay of punishment to encompass any temporary relief or escape from something difficult or unpleasant, capturing the core idea of a welcomed, if often temporary, halt.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It is derived from the Middle English 'repryen', meaning to take back to prison, which itself came from the Anglo-French 'repris', past participle of 'reprendre' (to take back). The functional role is that of a complete lexical unit.
Examples
The governor decided to reprieve the prisoner just hours before the scheduled execution.
The rain offered a brief reprieve from the intense summer heat.
The company's financial reprieve was only temporary, and layoffs were announced the following quarter.