1. to hear the confession of and give absolution to (a penitent)
Usage: archaic; religious
2. to confess one’s sins to a priest
Usage: archaic; religious

Examples

• The priest would shrive the penitent before Easter.
• In medieval times, people would shrive themselves before major religious holidays.
• The dying man asked to be shriven before his final hour.
• She went to shrive her sins at the cathedral.
• The monk spent hours shriving the faithful who came to him.
• According to tradition, pilgrims would shrive themselves before entering the holy city.