Adjacent Words

Shrive definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SHRIVE, v.t. To hear or receive the confession of; to administer confession; as a priest.
He shrives this woman. Obs. Shak.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: grant remission of a sin to; "The priest absolved him and told him to say ten Hail Mary's" [syn: shrive, absolve]

Merriam Webster's

verb (shrived or shrove; shriven or shrived; shriving) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scr?fan to shrive, prescribe (akin to Old High German scr?ban to write), from Latin scribere to write — more at scribe Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to administer the sacrament of reconciliation to 2. to free from guilt intransitive verb archaic to confess one's sins especially to a priest

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. (past shrove; past part. shriven) RC Ch. archaic 1 (of a priest) hear the confession of, assign penance to, and absolve. 2 (refl.) (of a penitent) submit oneself to a priest for confession etc. Etymology: OE scrifan impose as penance, WG f. L scribere write

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Moby Thesaurus

absolve, acquit, administer absolution, administer extreme unction, amnesty, clear, confess, decontaminate, destigmatize, discharge, dismiss, dispense from, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, forgive, free, give absolution, grant amnesty to, grant forgiveness, grant immunity, grant remission, hear confession, justify, let go, let off, make confession, nonpros, pardon, purge, quash the charge, receive absolution, release, remit, set free, spare, vindicate, whitewash, withdraw the charge