shrive

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.

verb

1. (religion, transitive and intransitive) To hear or receive a confession (of sins etc.)
   And thenne whan paper & ynke was broughte thenne Gawayn was set vp weykely by kynge Arthur for he was shryuen a lytel tofore and thenne he wrote thus as the Frensshe book maketh mencyon "And then when paper and ink was brought, then Gawaine was set up weakly by King Arthur, for he was shriven a little to-fore; and then he wrote thus, as the French book maketh mention" 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XXI, Chapter ii, leaf 421v
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.