Shrive

Pronunciation

• enPR: shrÄ«v, IPA: /ˈʃɹaɪv/
• Rhymes: -aɪv

Alternative forms

• shrieve obsolete

Origin

From Middle English shriven, schrifen, from Old English scrīfan, from late Proto-Germanic *skrībaną, a late borrowing from Latin scrībō ("write"). Compare West Frisian skriuwe ("to write"), Low German schrieven ("to write"), Dutch schrijven ("to write"), German schreiben ("to write"), Danish skrive ("to write"), Swedish skriva ("to write"), Icelandic skrifa ("to write"). More at scribe.

Full definition of shrive

Verb

1. (transitive and intransitive) To hear or receive a confession (of sins etc.)
• ShakespeareDoubtless he shrives this woman, ...
  Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.
• LongfellowTill my guilty soul be shriven.
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

Anagrams

• shiver