Respite Meaning

/ˈɹɛsˌpaɪt/
C1

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounA brief interval of rest or relief.

nounA reprieve, especially from a sentence of death.

I have received a respite.
I have gotten a respite.
The lake provided Gabriel with a respite from the summer heat.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The very tired workers finally took a short ____ from their difficult tasks.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ceasefire offered a brief ____ from the fighting, allowing aid workers to reach the affected areas.

From Anglo-Norman and Old French respit (“rest”), from Latin respectus. Doublet of respect.

"I crave but four day's respite." — c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
"Some pause and respite only I require." — 1668, John Denham, “The Passion of Dido for Æneas”, in Poems and Translations with the Sophy, page 136:
"It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers." — 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
"Mr. Cameron had a respite Thursday from the negative chatter swirling around him when he appeared outside 10 Downing Street to denounce the murder a day before of a British soldier on a London street." — 2013 May 23, Sarah Lyall, “British Leader's Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party”, in New York Times, retrieved 29 May 2013:
"The American escort carriers reach the first in a series of rain squalls, and Japanese fire drops off significantly, as their optical systems are unable to see through the rain. At this point in time, almost any other major navy would simply have used their radar to keep spotting and firing, as Duke of York had done to Scharnhorst almost a year ago and as the battleships of the Seventh Fleet had done to the Yamashiro mere hours earlier. But, since only one ship in the Center Force has gunnery radar, the American ships gain some respite." — 2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 17:27 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2022:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
The very tired workers finally took a short ____ from their difficult tasks.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ceasefire offered a brief ____ from the fighting, allowing aid workers to reach the affected areas.

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