1. (v. t.) To delay or cancel punishment; to suspend the execution of sentence on; to give a respite to\; to respite; as, to reprieve a criminal for thirty days.

2. (v. t.) To relieve for a time, or temporarily.

3. (n.) A temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence, especially of a sentence of death.

4. (n.) Interval of ease or relief; respite.

absolution afterthought amnesty benevolence bind block blockage bureaucratic delay catharsis cleanse cleanse away cleansing clemency commiseration compassion condolence delay delayage delayed reaction deliver deliverance detention discharge double take dragging emotional release exculpation excuse exemption exoneration favor feeling forbear forbearance forgive forgiveness free free from freeing give quarter give release give respite grace grant a reprieve halt hang-up have mercy upon have pity hindrance holdup humanity immunity indemnity interim intermission intermit jam kindness lag lagging leniency let off let up on logjam melt mercy mitigation moratorium obstruction paperasserie pardon pathos pause pity postponement purgation purge purge away purging quarter red tape red-tapeism red-tapery redemption relax release relent relief remission remission of sin removal remove rescue respite retardance retardation ruth save self-pity shrift slow-up slowdown slowness spare sparing stay stay of execution stop stoppage surcease suspend suspension sympathy take pity on thaw tie-up time lag wait