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.