Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Respite

Respite (r?s"p?t) , noun

[Old French respit, French répit, from Latin respectus respect, regard, delay, in Late Latin, the deferring of a day. See Respect.]

1.
A putting off of that which was appointed; a postponement or delay.
I crave but four day's respite. — Shakespeare
2.
Temporary intermission of labor, or of any process or operation; interval of rest; pause; delay.
Without more respite. — Chaucer
Some pause and respite only I require. — Denham
3.
(a) (Law) Temporary suspension of the execution of a capital offender; reprieve.
(b)
(Law) The delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term.

Respite , transitive verb

[Old French respiter, Late Latin respectare. See Respite, n.]

To give or grant a respite to.
(a)
To delay or postpone; to put off.
(b)
To keep back from execution; to reprieve.
Forty days longer we do respite you. — Shakespeare
(c)
To relieve by a pause or interval of rest.
To respite his day labor with repast. — Milton