Dictionary.com Word Of The Day
Feb. 28, 2017
shrive\shrahyv\verb
1. to grant absolution to (a penitent).
2. to impose penance on (a sinner).
QuotesFather Hugo says that in time of war, even if there is no priest
to shrive you, your sins can be forgiven this way.
-- Diana Gabaldon, Dragonfly in Amber, 1992
Origin of shriveShrive is a borrowing from Latin scrÄ«bere âto
write, drawâ and occurs in all the Germanic languages except Gothic,
e.g., Old Norse skrifa âto write, draw,â Old High Germanscrîban,
German schreiben. Old English scrīfan and Middle English shriven,
schrifen mean âto impose a penance on (a penitent)â and by
extension âto hear (someoneâs) confession, absolve (someone).â
Shrive entered English before 900.More From Dictionary.comSubmit a
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