reprieve

 
Pronunciation: /rɪˈpriːv/

verb

[with object]
  • cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone condemned to death): under the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were reprieved
  • abandon or postpone plans to close or abolish (something): the threatened pits could be reprieved

noun

  • a cancellation or postponement of a punishment: he accepted the death sentence and refused to appeal for a reprieve
  • a cancellation or postponement of an undesirable event: a mother who faced eviction has been given a reprieve

Origin:

late 15th century (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 century) 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'

Spelling rule

i before e except after c (as in thief).