_respite_
Noun.
Plural: respites.
Pronunciation
and accent: rɛspɪt.
It is dated from
the end of 1200.
Etymology: from Old French respite (modernly: répit), which is from
Latin
respectus (= respect,
regard, delay), participial from the verb respicere (= to look
back), which is analysed into re- + species (= look, kind). It is
etymologically and semantically identical to French répit.
1. Delay asked or granted; the postponement of something
ordained, authorized, or concerted; a grant of extending the appointed or due
time to do something.
Translation: dilazione, proroga, in
Italian; dilación, prórroga, suspensión, in
Spanish; prorogation, in French.
Why
should the poor girl be turned out of doors so suddenly, so disgracefully?
Procure for me, Sir, one fortnight's respite. In that space of time, I
hope you will all relent. My mamma shall not need to shut her door in
apprehension of seeing her disgraceful child.
Samuel Richardson… Clarissa
Again
messengers came, asking for time--time, at least, till they could learn whether
the Ubii would receive them. If the Ubii were favorable, they said that they
were ready to go; but they could not decide without a knowledge of what was to
become of them. They asked for a respite, if only for three days.
James Froude… Caesar: A Sketch
"Certainly;
therefore, I took good care to go with thee: however, thou mayest see the prior
alone, if thou wilt; and lo! his door is open. I will stand without for five
minutes, when it will be time to commence our journey."
It
was the poor Baron's last chance: and he entered his brother's room more for
the five minutes' respite than from any hope of
success.
William Thackeray… The Paris Sketch Book…
"One more respite, papa," she
implored him.
George Meredith… The Egoist
Attendants
came in to remove Caesar's chair. It was announced that he was not coming.
Delay might be fatal. They conjectured that he already suspected something. A
day's respite, and all might be discovered.
James Froude… Caesar: A Sketch
Let
the last moments of freedom which I am to enjoy be mine without interruption;
and protract to the last moment the respite which is allowed me.
Walter Scott… The Black Dwarf
The protector intended to have punished the governor and garrison of one
of these castles for their temerity in resisting such unequal force: But they
eluded his anger by asking only a few hours’ respite, till they should prepare themselves for death; after which they found
his ears more open to their applications for mercy.
David Hume… The History of England
-) In
certain contexts, the respite is to be
understood as a reprieve (the suspension
or delay of a death punishment), and, rarely, the person who is respited or reprieved:
What I here allude to, is a publication in a Philadelphia paper, copied
afterwards into a New York paper, both under the patronage of the Washington
faction, in which the writer, still supposing me in prison in France, wonders
at my lengthy respite from the scaffold.
Thomas Paine… The Writings…
2. Hence: interval from a work, a process, an
action, etc.; pause; intermission; delay of something begun or attempted either
to repose or to divert oneself to another thing.
Translation: pausa, in Italian; pausa, in Spanish;
pause, in French.
On the conclusion of a number, I sometimes took two days’ respite; employing it in visiting
some country house for the day and night, and indulging in eight hours’ sleep,
instead of the five, or five and a half, with which I was otherwise obliged to
be satisfied.
David Hume… The History of England
At
nightfall, after two half-hour respites for dinner and tea, he was so
tired that he could scarcely stand.
William Howells… The Minister's Charge
This gained them a day's respite from their pursuers.
Robert Southey… History of the Peninsular War
His constancy was not long tried; at the distance of about half a mile
he saw an inn, which he entered wet and weary, and found civil treatment and
proper refreshment. After a respite of about two
hours, he looked abroad, and seeing the sky clear, called for his horse, and
passed the first stage without any other memorable accident.
Samuel Johnson… The Adventurer
3. Metaphor:
intermission of something unpleasant, as if it were the result of a granting.
I do not remember any dread of thieves or ghosts in particular; but
things as I actually saw them were dreadful to me; and it now appears to me
that I had scarcely any respite from the terror.
David Hume… The History of England
[…] both were glad to obtain a little respite from those multiplied calamities, from which the one, no less than the
other, had, in their fierce contest for power, experienced such fatal
consequences.
David Hume… The History of England
I had a whole month of respite from all such
cares.
David Hume… The History of England
Watch
him, as taking a few minutes’ respite from his toils, he
negligently seats himself on the edge of a boat, and fans his broad bushy chest
with a cap scarcely half so furry.
Charles Dickens… Sketches by Boz
English word
derived from RESPITE: respite (verb).
Words
derived from the Latin species: see INSPECT.
