respit

Noun

respite (countable and uncountable, plural respites)

1. A brief interval of rest or relief.
   • 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]...

   Synonyms:

   hiatus, moratorium, recess, break, breather, cessation, demurral, gap, caesura, halt

2. 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...1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XX, Chapter vii, leaf 404v
3. The delay of appearance at court granted to a jury beyond the proper term.
4. A short period of spoken dialogue in an otherwise sung-through musical.

See all 6 meanings of respite