Dictionary entry

Respite (2)

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Res″pite, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Respited; p. pr. & vb. n.Respiting.] [OF. respiter, LL. respectare. See Respite, n.] To give or grant a respite to. Specifically: (a) To delay or postpone; to put off. (b) To keep back from execution; to reprieve.

Forty days longer we do respite you. Shak.

(c) To relieve by a pause or interval of rest. “To respite his day labor with repast.” Milton.