1. [n]  the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment
2. [n]  a warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence)
3. [n]  an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
4. [n]  a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
5. [v]  postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution
6. [v]  relieve temporarily

Reprieve
The French existentialist recreates the shock and confusion of Europe in September of 1938 in a novel which centers on man's search for freedom

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1. \Re*prieve\ (r?-pr?v"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Reprieved}
   (-pr?vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Reprieving}.] [OE. repreven to
   reject, disallow, OF. reprover to blame, reproach, condemn
   (pres. il reprueve), F. r['e]prouver to disapprove, fr. L.
   reprobare to reject, condemn; pref. re- re- + probare to try,
   prove. See {Prove}, and cf. {Reprove}, {Reprobate}.]
   1. To delay the punishment of; to suspend the execution of
      sentence on; to give a respite to; to respite; as, to
      reprieve a criminal for thirty days.
            He reprieves the sinnner from time to time.
                                                  --Rogers.
   2. To relieve for a time, or temporarily.
            Company, thought it may reprieve a man from his
            melaneholy yet can not secure him from his
            conscience.                           --South.
   

2. \Re*prieve"\ (r?-pr?v"), n.
   1. A temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence,
      especially of a sentence of death.
            The morning Sir John Hotham was to die, a reprieve
            was sent to suspend the execution for three days.
      --Clarendon.
   2. Interval of ease or relief; respite.
            All that I ask is but a short reprieve, ll I forget
            to love, and learn to grieve.         --Denham.