[shrive] vb shrived or shrove ; shriv.en or shrived ; shriv.ing [ME, fr. OE scrifan to shrive, prescribe (akin to OHG scriban to write), fr. L scribere to write--more at scribe] vt (bef. 12c) 1: to administer the sacrament of reconciliation to
2: to free from guilt ~ vi, archaic: to confess one's sins esp. to a priest