respite

Etymology

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

noun

1. A brief interval of rest or relief.
   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
   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. 2013-05-23, Sarah Lyall, “British Leader's Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party”, in New York Times, retrieved 2013-05-29
   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. 27 February 2019, Drachinifel, 17:27 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 2022-11-03
2. (law) A reprieve, especially from a sentence of death.
   Thenne spake sir gawayn and sayd my lord Arthur I wold counceylle yow not to be ouer hasty but that ye wold putte it in respyte this Iugement of my lady the quene for many causes. "Then spake Sir Gawaine, and said: My lord Arthur, I would counsel you not to be over-hasty, but that ye would put it in respite, this judgment of my lady the queen, for many causes." 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XX, Chapter vii, leaf 404v
3. (law) The delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term.
4. (musical theatre) A short period of spoken dialogue in an otherwise sung-through musical.

verb

1. (transitive) To delay or postpone (an event).
2. (transitive) To allow (a person) extra time to fulfil some obligation.