shrive

English

Alternative forms

• shrieve (obsolete)

Etymology

Old English scrīfan, from West Germanic *skrībanan, from Latin scrībō (“write”). More at scribe.

Pronunciation

• enPR: shrīv, IPA: /ˈʃɹaɪv/, X-SAMPA: /"Sr\aIv/
• Rhymes: -aɪv

Verb

shrive (third-person singular simple present shrives, present participle shriving, simple past shrived or shrove, past participle shrived or shriven)

1. (transitive and intransitive) To hear or receive a confession (of sins etc.)
2. (transitive) To prescribe penance or absolution.
3. (intransitive or reflexive) To confess, and receive absolution.

   "Twas a good thought, boy, to come here and shrive", - The Croppy Boy, trad Irish song.

Derived terms

• shrove
• Shrovetide
• Shrove Monday
• Shrove Sunday
• Shrove Tuesday

Related terms

• scribe
• shrift

Translations

hear or receive a confession

prescribe penance or absolution

confess — see confess

Anagrams

• shiver