Lexic.us

Definition of Shrive

1. Verb. Grant remission of a sin to. "The priest absolved him and told him to say ten Hail Mary's"

Definition of Shrive

1. v. t. To hear or receive the confession of; to administer confession and absolution to; -- said of a priest as the agent.

2. v. i. To receive confessions, as a priest; to administer confession and absolution.

Definition of Shrive

1. Verb. (transitive and intransitive) To hear or receive a confession (of sins etc.) ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) To prescribe penance or absolution. ¹

3. Verb. (intransitive or reflexive) To confess, and receive absolution. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Shrive

1. to hear the confession of and grant absolution to [v SHROVE or SHRIVED, SHRIVEN, SHRIVING, SHRIVES]

Medical Definition of Shrive

1. 1. To hear or receive the confession of; to administer confession and absolution to; said of a priest as the agent. "That they should shrive their parishioners." (Piers Plowman) "Doubtless he shrives this woman, . . . Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech." (Shak) "Till my guilty soul be shriven." (Longfellow) 2. To confess, and receive absolution; used reflexively. "Get you to the church and shrive yourself." (Beau & Fl) Origin: Shrived or Shrove; Shriven or Shrived; Shriving] [OE. Shriven, schriven, AS. Scrivan to shrive, to impose penance or punishment; akin to OFries. Skriva to impose punishment; cf. OS. Biskriban to be troubled. Cf. Shrift, Shrovetide. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Shrive

Literary usage of Shrive

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language by Walter William Skeat (1901)
"The sb. shrove is formed from shrove, 2nd grade of shrive (ME ... to shrive, impose a penance, pt. t. sera/, pp. serif-en ..."

2. A Glossary: Or, Collection of Words, Phrases, Names, and Allusions to by Robert Nares (1859)
"... If't be your happinesse a nymph to shrive, Your anagramme is here imperative, .... shrive ..."

3. The Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: With an Essay on His Language and by Geoffrey Chaucer, Thomas Tyrwhitt (1843)
"First that the shrift be purveyed afore, and avised, for wicked hast doth not profite ; and that a man con shrive him of his ..."

4. The Works of the English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper: Including the Series by Alexander Chalmers, Samuel Johnson (1810)
"The fourth signe is, that he ne lete not for shame to shrive him and ... And if he abide to his last day, scarcely may he shrive him or remembre him of his ..."

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