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shrive - 5 dictionary results

shrive

  [shrahyv] verb, shrove or shrived, shriv⋅en or shrived, shriv⋅ing.
Use shrive in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
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.
4. to hear confessions.
5. to go to or make confession; confess one's sins, as to a priest.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME shriven, schrifen, OE scrīfan to prescribe, c. G schreiben to write ≪ L scrībere; see scribe 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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shrive   (shrīv)   
v.   shrove (shrōv) or shrived, shriv·en (shrĭv'ən) or shrived, shriv·ing, shrives

v.   tr.
  1. To hear the confession of and give absolution to (a penitent).
  2. To obtain absolution for (oneself) by confessing and doing penance.
v.   intr. Archaic
  1. To make or go to confession.
  2. To hear confessions.

[Middle English schriven, from Old English scrīfan, from Latin scrībere, to write; see skrībh- in Indo-European roots.]
shriv'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Shrive

Shrive\, v. t. [imp. Shrivedor Shrove; p. p. Shrivenor Shrived; p. pr. & vb. n. Shriving.] [OE. shriven, schriven, AS. scr[=i]van to shrive, to impose penance or punishment; akin to OFries. skr[=i]va to impose punishment; cf. OS. biskr[=i]ban to be troubled. Cf. Shrift, Shrovetide.]

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.

Shrive

Shrive\, v. i. To receive confessions, as a priest; to administer confession and absolution. --Spenser.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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shrive 
O.E. scrifan "assign, decree, impose penance," from W.Gmc. *skriban (cf. O.S. scriban, O.Du. scrivan, Du. schrijven "to write;" O.N. skrjpt "penance, confession"), an early borrowing from L. scribere "to write" (see script).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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