FreeVocabulary
Reprieve
/rɪˈpriːv/ noun easyA brief delay or temporary relief from something difficult or unpleasant, especially a punishment.
The afternoon clouds gave the exhausted hikers a welcome reprieve from the blistering sun.
Memory Trick
Reprieve traces back to a French root meaning 'taken back' -- a reprieve takes back or postpones a punishment at the very last moment.