Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: respit, from Medieval Latin respectus; RESPECT1

respite

 noun
     
res‧pite [singular,uncountable]
1 a short time when something bad stops happening, so that the situation is temporarily better
respite from
The trip was a welcome respite from the pressures of work.
a brief respite from persecution
without respite
The pain went on without respite.
2 a short period of time before you have to do something that you do not like:
We have a few days' respite before we have to pay them.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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