shrive

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English shryven, shriven, schrifen, from Old English sċrīfan (“1. to decree, pass judgement, prescribe, 2. (of a priest) to prescribe penance or absolution”), from Proto-West Germanic *skrīban, from late Proto-Germanic *skrībaną, a 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 and scribble.

Pronunciation
  • enPR: shrīv, IPA(key): /ˈʃɹaɪv/
  • Rhymes: -aɪv
    • Audio (UK)(file)

Verb

shrive (third-person singular simple present shrives, present participle shriving, simple past shrove or shrived, past participle shriven or shrived)

  1. (religion, transitive and intransitive) To hear or receive a confession (of sins etc.)
  2. (religion, transitive) To prescribe penance or absolution.
  3. (religion, intransitive or reflexive) To confess, and receive absolution.
    • c. 1798-1845, unknown author, The Croppy Boy
      'Twas a good thought, boy, to come here and shrive.

Derived terms

Translations
confess — see confess

Anagrams

Middle English

Verb

shrive

  1. Alternative form of shryven
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