Respite

(rēs'pit), n. [O. Fr. respit, N. Fr. répit, Pr. respèit, respieg, It. respitto, rispitto, from Lat. respectus, respect, regard, delay, the deferring of a day. See RESPECT.] 1. A putting off of that which was appointed; a postponement or delay. I crave but four days' respite. Shak. 2. Temporary intermission of labor, or of any process or operation; interval of rest; pause. 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. Blackstone. Syn. — Pause; interval; stop; cessation; delay; stay; reprieve.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. RESPITED; p. pr. & vb. n. RESPITING.] [O. Fr. respiter, L. Lat. respectare. See supra.] To give or grant a respite to; as, (a.) To delay or postpone. (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.