/shruyv/ , v. , shrove or shrived, shriven or shrived, shriving .
v.t.
1. to impose penance on (a sinner).
2. to grant absolution to (a penitent).
3. to hear the confession of (a person).
v.i. Archaic.
4. to hear confessions.
5. to go to or make confession; confess one's sins, as to a priest.
[ bef. 900; ME shriven, schrifen, OE scrifan to prescribe, c. G schreiben to write scribere; see SCRIBE 1 ]