Adjacent Words

Shrift definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SHRIFT, n. Confession made to a priest. Obs.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the act of being shriven

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scrift, from scr?fan to shrive — more at shrive Date: before 12th century 1. archaic a. a remission of sins pronounced by a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation b. the act of shriving ; confession 2. obsolete confessional

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. archaic 1 confession to a priest. 2 confession and absolution. Phrases and idioms: short shrift 1 curt treatment. 2 archaic little time between condemnation and execution or punishment. Etymology: OE scrift (verbal noun) f. SHRIVE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shrift Shrift, n. [OE. shrift, schrift, AS. scrift, fr. scr[=i]fan to shrive. See Shrive.] 1. The act of shriving. In shrift and preaching is my diligence. --Chaucer. 2. Confession made to a priest, and the absolution consequent upon it. --Chaucer. Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day? --Shak. Therefore, my lord, address you to your shrift, And be yourself; for you must die this instant. --Rowe. Shrift father, a priest to whom confession is made.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

If someone or something gets short shrift, they are paid very little attention. The idea has been given short shrift by philosophers. PHRASE: PHR after v

Moby Thesaurus

absolution, acknowledgment, admission, amnesty, avowal, concession, confession, exculpation, excuse, exemption, exoneration, grace, immunity, indemnity, owning, owning up, pardon, redemption, remission, remission of sin, reprieve, rite of confession, sparing, unbosoming