respite

A short time when you can rest or are free from something difficult or unpleasant.

• The rain gave us a brief respite.
• She needed some respite from caring for her father.
• There was no respite from the noise all afternoon.

How to use it: respite from something (The shade offered a welcome respite from the heat.)

Similar words: break, relief, rest

Common phrases: brief respite, respite from something, respite care

An official delay in carrying out a punishment, especially a death sentence.

• The governor granted a respite.
• The condemned man received a short respite from execution.
• The respite gave his lawyers time to appeal.

How to use it: respite from something (The prisoner was granted a respite from execution.)

Similar words: reprieve, stay

Common phrases: grant a respite, respite from execution, temporary respite

Extra time officially given to a jury before it must appear in court.

• The jury was granted a respite.
• A respite delayed the jurors' appearance in court.
• The old court record notes a respite of two weeks.

Similar words: extension, postponement

Common phrases: grant a respite, jury respite, respite of appearance

A short spoken part in a musical where almost everything else is sung.

• The musical includes a short respite.
• During the respite, the actors speak without music.
• This brief respite separates two long sung scenes.

Common phrases: spoken respite, brief respite, respite between songs

To arrange for something to happen later than planned.

• The governor respited the execution.
• The punishment was respited for a week.
• They asked the court to respite the sentence.

How to use it: respite something until a time (The judge respited the execution until Monday.)

Similar words: postpone, delay, defer

Common phrases: respite an execution, respite a sentence

To give someone more time to do something they are required to do.

• The creditor agreed to respite the debtor.
• He was respited for another month to settle his debt.
• The court respited her, allowing more time for payment.

Similar words: give an extension

Common phrases: respite a debtor, respite someone temporarily