Main Entry: shrive

Pronunciation: \ˈshrīv, especially Southern ˈsrīv\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): shrived or shrove \ˈshrōv, ˈsrōv\; shriv·en \ˈshri-vən, ˈsri-\ or shrived; shriv·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scrīfan to shrive, prescribe (akin to Old High German scrīban to write), from Latin scribere to write — more at scribe

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb 1 : to administer the sacrament of reconciliation to
2 : to free from guiltintransitive verb archaic : to confess one's sins especially to a priest