Main Entry:

shrift

Pronunciation:

\ˈshrift, especially Southern ˈsrift\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English scrift, from scrīfan to shrive — more at shrive

Date:

before 12th century

1archaic a: a remission of sins pronounced by a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation b: the act of shriving : confession2obsolete : confessional