shriving

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Related to shriving: shriven

shrive

(shrīv)

v. shrove (shrōv) or shrived, shriv·en (shrĭv′ən) or shrived, shriv·ing, shrives

v.tr.

1. To hear the confession of and give absolution to (a penitent).

2. To obtain absolution for (oneself) by confessing and doing penance.

v.intr. Archaic

1. To make or go to confession.

2. To hear confessions.

[Middle English schriven, from Old English scrīfan, from Latin scrībere, to write; see skrībh- in Indo-European roots.]

shriv′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

References in periodicals archive ?

The day gets its name from the ritual of shriving which means an act of confessing sins and getting absolution.

Marks and Spencer is selling gin and tonic lemon sauce for Pancake Day; The tangy sauce contains 4% gin

It started after a woman cooking pancakes heard the shriving bell summoning her to confession.

All new ideas from Bryan

'Shriving' is the name given to confession and absolution, which traditionally took place the day before Ash Wednesday when the Lenten fast began.