ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Respite

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈɹɛsˌpaɪt/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Respite is a noun meaning A brief interval of rest or relief.

Meaning

A brief interval of rest or relief.

More Meanings

  1. (law) A reprieve, especially from a sentence of death.
  2. (law) The delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term.
  3. (musical theatre) A short period of spoken dialogue in an otherwise sung-through musical.
  4. (transitive) To delay or postpone (an event).
  5. (transitive) To allow (a person) extra time to fulfil some obligation.

Example Sentences

I crave but four day's respite.
Some pause and respite only I require.
Mr. Cameron had a respite Thursday from the negative chatter swirling around him when he appeared outside 10 Downing Street to denounce the murder a day before of a British soldier on a London street.
The PACC Act [Post-Appeal Applications in Capital Cases Act] also amends the CPC [Criminal Procedure Code] to provide that a capital sentence may be carried out unless:[…]The President has ordered a respite.

Word Forms

Synonyms for respite

Depending on context, synonyms include hiatus, moratorium, recess, break, breather, cessation.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include relief, abatement, hiatus, suspension, reprieve, recess.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.