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reprieve
re·prieve / riˈprēv/ • v. [tr.] cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, esp. someone condemned to death): under the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were reprieved. ∎ abandon or postpone plans to close or put an end to (something): the threatened pits could be reprieved. • n. a cancellation or postponement of a punishment. ∎ a temporary escape from an undesirable fate or unpleasant situation: a mother who faced eviction has been given a reprieve. ORIGIN: late 15th cent. (as the past participle repryed): from Anglo-Norman French repris, past participle of reprendre, from Latin re- ‘back’ + prehendere ‘seize.’ The insertion of -v- (16th cent.) remains unexplained. Sense development has undergone a reversal, from the early meaning ‘send back to prison,’ via ‘postpone (a legal process),’ to the current sense ‘rescue from impending punishment.’ |
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"reprieve." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "reprieve." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-reprieve.html "reprieve." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-reprieve.html |
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Reprieve
REPRIEVEThe suspension of the execution of the death penalty for a period of time. Reprieve is generally an act of clemency that is extended to a prisoner in order to give him or her an opportunity to find a means or reason for reducing the sentence imposed. The term reprieve is also used generally in reference to the withdrawal of any sentence for a period of time. |
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"Reprieve." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Reprieve." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437703763.html "Reprieve." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437703763.html |
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reprieve
reprieve †send back to prison; †postpone; delay the punishment of. XVI. First in pp. reprived, unexpl. alt. of earlier repryed (to prison) — AN., OF. repris, pp. of reprendre, f. RE- + prendre take.
Hence sb. XVI. |
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T. F. HOAD. "reprieve." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "reprieve." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-reprieve.html T. F. HOAD. "reprieve." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-reprieve.html |
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reprieve
reprieve : in law, see pardon . |
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"reprieve." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "reprieve." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-reprieve.html "reprieve." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-reprieve.html |
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reprieve
reprieve •achieve, believe, breve, cleave, conceive, deceive, eve, greave, grieve, heave, interleave, interweave, khedive, leave, misconceive, naive, Neve, peeve, perceive, reave, receive, reive, relieve, reprieve, retrieve, sheave, sleeve, steeve, Steve, Tananarive, Tel Aviv, thieve, underachieve, upheave, weave, we've, Yves
•make-believe • shirtsleeve
•semibreve • Congreve
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Cite this article
"reprieve." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "reprieve." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-reprieve.html "reprieve." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-reprieve.html |
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