/ʃraɪv/Show Spelled[shrahyv]Show IPAverb, shrove or shrived, shriv·en or shrived, shriv·ing.
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: before 900; Middle English shriven, schrifen,Old English scrīfan to prescribe, cognate with German schreiben to write ≪ Latin scrībere;see scribe1
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).
1570s, shortened from Shrovetide (early 15c.), from schrof-, related to schrifen (see shrive). Shrove Tuesday (c.1500) is from practice of celebration and merrymaking before going to confession at the beginning of Lent.