Dictionary

respite en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹɛs.pɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɹɛsˌpaɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɹɛs.pɪt/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman and Old French respit (“rest”), from Latin respectus. Doublet of respect.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A brief interval of rest or relief.
   • I crave but four day's respite. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
   • It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
   • The American escort carriers reach the first in a series of rain squalls, and Japanese fire drops off significantly, as their optical systems are unable to see through the rain. At this point in time, almost any other major navy would simply have used their radar to keep spotting and firing, as Duke of York had done to Scharnhorst almost a year ago and as the battleships of the Seventh Fleet had done to the Yamashiro mere hours earlier. But, since only one ship in the Center Force has gunnery radar, the American ships gain some respite. 2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 17:27 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2022:
   • 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. 2013 May 23, Sarah Lyall, “British Leader's Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party”, in New York Times, retrieved 29 May 2013:
   • Some pause and respite only I require. 1668, John Denham, “The Passion of Dido for Æneas”, in Poems and Translations with the Sophy, page 136:
2. (countable, uncountable) A reprieve, especially from a sentence of death.
   • 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. 2024 June 24, “Operationalisation of the Post-Appeal Applications in Capital Cases Act 2022”, in Ministry of Law (Singapore):
   • Thenne spake sir gawayn and sayd my lord Arthur I wold counceylle yow not to be ouer hasty but that ye wold putte it in respyte this Iugement of my lady the quene for many causes. "Then spake Sir Gawaine, and said: My lord Arthur, I would counsel you not to be over-hasty, but that ye would put it in respite, this judgment of my lady the queen, for many causes." 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XX, Chapter vii, leaf 404v:
3. (countable, uncountable) The delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term.
4. (countable, uncountable) A short period of spoken dialogue in an otherwise sung-through musical.

Forms

Deriveds

respite care · respiteless

Synonyms

pause · break · ease · alleviation · relief · moratorium · stopping · halting · moratorium · breather · respite · respite · hiatus · recess · gap · interruption · demurral · cessation · caesura · suspension · liss · release · hiatus · comfort · resting · comfort · stoppage · lapse · solace · solace · interregnum · recess · relief · halt · consolation

Translations (55)

fr répit (brief interval of rest or relief) · nl verademing (brief interval of rest or relief) · mk о́ддишка (brief interval of rest or relief) · it tregua (brief interval of rest or relief) · uk відтермінування ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · cs odklad ((law) delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term) · uk відстрочка ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · ca respir (brief interval of rest or relief) · mk о́ддив (brief interval of rest or relief) · cs oddech (brief interval of rest or relief) · mk о́дмор (brief interval of rest or relief) · ang ǣmethwīl (brief interval of rest or relief) · ru отсро́чка ((law) delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term) · af verposing (brief interval of rest or relief) · es descanso (brief interval of rest or relief) · sv andrum (brief interval of rest or relief) · es pausa (brief interval of rest or relief) · mk одложу́вање ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · mi tāngamanawa (brief interval of rest or relief) · sh odgoda ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · de Aufschub (brief interval of rest or relief) · bg отсрочка ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · nb pusterom (brief interval of rest or relief) · nb avveksling (brief interval of rest or relief) · es alivio (brief interval of rest or relief) · fi lepotauko (brief interval of rest or relief) · cmn 缓刑 ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · es respiro (brief interval of rest or relief) · nl respijt ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · bg отдих (brief interval of rest or relief) · mi tānga manawa (brief interval of rest or relief) · bg отмора (brief interval of rest or relief) · pt trégua (brief interval of rest or relief) · de Bedenkzeit (brief interval of rest or relief) · es solaz (brief interval of rest or relief) · uk відтермінування ((law) delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term) · de Verhandlungsaufschub ((law) delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term) · sh predah (brief interval of rest or relief) · ru отсро́чка (brief interval of rest or relief) · bg отлагане ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · de Aussetzung des Verfahrens ((law) delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term) · cs odklad ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · gd faochadh (brief interval of rest or relief) · ar مُتَنَفَّس (brief interval of rest or relief) · de Frist (brief interval of rest or relief) · nb pustepause (brief interval of rest or relief) · de Strafaufschub ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · ru переды́шка (brief interval of rest or relief) · uk перепочинок (brief interval of rest or relief) · uk відстрочка ((law) delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term) · ru отсро́чка ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death) · de Atempause (brief interval of rest or relief) · cs úleva (brief interval of rest or relief) · cmn 暂缓 (brief interval of rest or relief) · de Strafvollstreckungsaufschub ((law) reprieve, especially from a sentence of death)

respite en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹɛs.pɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɹɛsˌpaɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɹɛs.pɪt/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman and Old French respit (“rest”), from Latin respectus. Doublet of respect.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To delay or postpone (an event).
2. (transitive) To allow (a person) extra time to fulfil some obligation.

Forms

Translations (12)

es postergar ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · bg отсрочвам ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · es atrasar ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · mk о́дложи ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · ru отсро́чивать ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · ru отсро́чить ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · bg отлагам ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · af uitstel ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · cmn 暂缓 ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · cs odložit ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · de aufschieben ((transitive) To delay or postpone) · de verschieben ((transitive) To delay or postpone)