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Shrive

//ˈʃɹaɪv// name, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun

1
A surname.

Verb

1
To hear or receive a confession (of sins etc.). intransitive, transitive
"If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me."
2
grant remission of a sin to wordnet
3
To free from guilt, to absolve. transitive
"I will not madly deem that power Of Earth may shrive me of the sin Unearthly pride hath revell’d in— […]"
4
To prescribe penance or absolution. transitive
5
To confess, and receive absolution. intransitive, reflexive
"c. 1798-1845, unknown author, The Croppy Boy 'Twas a good thought, boy, to come here and shrive."

Etymology

From Middle English shryven, shriven, schrifen, from Old English sċrīfan (“1. to decree, pass judgement, prescribe, 3. (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.

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