Noah Webster
Respit
RES'PIT, noun
1. Pause; temporary intermission of labor, or of any process or operation; interval of rest.
Some pause and respit only I require.
2. In law, reprieve; temporary suspension of the execution of a capital offender.
3. Delay; forbearance; prolongation of time for the payment of a debt beyond the legal time.
4. The delay of appearance at court granted to a jury, beyond the proper term.
RES'PIT, verb transitive
1. To relieve by a pause or interval of rest.
To respit his day-labor with repast.
2. To suspend the execution of a criminal beyond the time limited by the sentence; to delay for a time.
3. To give delay of appearance at court; as, to respit a jury.