reprieve, repreeve, reprive

t. [The same word as Mid. Eng. repreve =to reprove (q. v.), to reject, to disallow.] 1. To grant a reprieve or respite to; to suspend or delay the execution of for a time. "Therefore I humbly crave your majestie It to replevie, and my sonne reprive ." Spenser: F. Q., IV. xii. 81. 2. To save or rescue from danger or death. "Night, descending, from his vengeful hand, Repriev'd the relics of the Grecian band." Pope: Homer's Iliad, x. 236. *3. To relieve for a time from any suffering. "Or to succor, or relieve him, Or from wants oft to repreeve him." Browne: Shepherd's Pipe, ecl. 3. **. To set free; to relieve, to acquit. "Unle her prayers, whom heav'n delights to hear, And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath Of greatest injustice." Shakesp.: All's Well , iii. 4. rě-priēve', s. [REPRIEVE, υ.] 1. The suspension or delay of the carrying out of a sentence (generally of death) on a prisoner. It is popularly but erroneously supposed to signify a permanent remi ion, or commutation of a capital sentence. "A reprieve is the withdrawing of a sentence for an interval of time; whereby the execution is suspended, This may be first, ex arbitrio judicis ; either before or after judgment; as, where the judge is not satisfied with the verdict, or the evidence is suspicious, or the indictment is insufficient; or sometimes if it be a small felony, or any favorable circumstances appear in the criminal's character, in order to give room to apply to the crown for either an absolute or conditional pardon. Or, secondly, ex mandato reg is , from the mere pleasure of the crown, expre ed in any way to the court by whom the execution is to be awarded. This is the mode in which reprieves are generally granted, through the intervention of one of the secretaries of state. Reprieves may also be ex nece itate leg is : as, where a woman is capitally convicted, and pleads her pregnancy; though this is no cause to stay the judgment, yet it is to respite the execution till she be delivered. Another cause of regular reprieve is, if the offender become non compos between the judgment and the award of execution." -Black stone : Comment . , bk. iv., ch. 31. chin, bench; go, gem; thin, this; utterly. "Which must be well applyed, correct, and reprymate of theyr malices."-Copland: Guydon; Questyonary of Cyrurgyens.