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Shrive: meaning, definitions and examples

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shrive

 

[ ʃraɪv ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

religious practice

Shrive means to hear someone's confession and grant absolution. In a more general sense, it refers to the act of freeing oneself from guilt or sin through confession or penance. This term is often used in religious contexts, particularly in Christianity, where it is associated with the sacrament of confession. It emphasizes not only the act of confessing but also the importance of seeking forgiveness and achieving spiritual cleansing.

Synonyms

absolve, forgive, pardon

Examples of usage

  • The priest will shrive the sinner.
  • They decided to shrive before the feast.
  • He sought to shrive for his past wrongdoings.
Context #2 | Verb

historical context

Historically, to shrive also meant to make a will or settle one’s affairs, particularly before death. This aspect of the word relates to the idea of preparing for the afterlife by ensuring one has confessed their sins and made peace with themselves and others. Although less common today, this usage reflects the importance of accountability and moral rectitude in past societies.

Synonyms

dispose, resolve, settle

Examples of usage

  • Before his death, he needed to shrive his estate.
  • In ancient times, it was customary to shrive.
  • She planned to shrive her lineage.

Translations

Translations of the word "shrive" in other languages:

🇵🇹 encolher

🇮🇳 सिकुड़ना

🇩🇪 schrumpfen

🇮🇩 menyusut

🇺🇦 зменшуватися

🇵🇱 kurczyć

🇯🇵 しぼむ

🇫🇷 rétrécir

🇪🇸 encoger

🇹🇷 küçülmek

🇰🇷 줄어들다

🇸🇦 يقلص

🇨🇿 zmenšit

🇸🇰 zmenšiť

🇨🇳 收缩

🇸🇮 smanjšati

🇮🇸 draga

🇰🇿 кешіру

🇬🇪 დამცირება

🇦🇿 kiçiltmək

🇲🇽 encoger

Etymology

The term 'shrive' originates from the Old English word 'shrīfan', meaning 'to impose an obligation, or to write'. This is closely associated with the Latin word 'scribere', which means 'to write'. Over centuries, the meaning evolved to represent a more spiritual context, especially within the Christian tradition, where it was connected to the practice of confession and absolution. The usage reflects a cultural emphasis on penance and purification, highlighting the connection between language and spiritual accountability. In Middle English, 'shrive' began to relate not only to writing but also to confessing sins, as it was believed that one's sins should be formally acknowledged and written down to achieve absolution. This historical evolution underscores the interplay between language, culture, and religious practices throughout time.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,153, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.