shrive

American  

[shrahyv] / ʃraɪv /

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).

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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 British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• shriver noun
• unshrived adjective

Etymology

Origin of shrive

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

Example Sentences

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

From BBC

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

From Washington Post

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

From Washington Post

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.

From Seattle Times

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

From BBC