shrive

[shrahyv]

verb (used with object)

shrove, shrived, shriven, shrived, shriving. 

1. to impose penance on (a sinner).

2. to grant absolution to (a penitent).

3. to hear the confession of (a person).

verb (used without object)

Archaic.

shrove, shrived, shriven, shrived, shriving. 

1. to hear confessions.

2. to go to or make confession; confess one's sins, as to a priest.

shrive

/ ʃraɪv /

verb

1. to hear the confession of (a penitent)

2. (tr) to impose a penance upon (a penitent) and grant him sacramental absolution

3. (intr) to confess one's sins to a priest in order to obtain sacramental forgiveness

Other Word Forms

• unshrived adjective
• shriver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrive¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English shriven, schrifen, Old English scrīfan “to prescribe, impose a penance on (a penitent),” cognate with German schreiben “to write,” ultimately from Latin scrībere “to write, draw”; scribe ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrive¹

Old English scrīfan, from Latin scrībere to write

Example Sentences

"We went to bed as a normal family that shrove Tuesday, but woke up to our world having been devastated."

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“Shrift,” from the verb “to shrive,” is confession of one’s sins to a priest and presumably forgiveness.

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Is it getting ready for our return to a shriven world, sadder, smaller but somehow more pure than before?

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Other events include a 5K fun run, races for all ages, and a shriving service, which is the religious component of the holiday, according to race organizers.

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The force said the word shrove is the past tense of shrive - confession before Lent - so it felt appropriate.

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