• enPR: shrīv, IPA: /ˈʃɹaɪv/

shrive (shrives, present participle shriving; past shrived, past participle shrived)

1. (religion, transitive and intransitive) To hear or receive a confession (of sins etc.)
   • c. 1600, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act 1, Scene III

     If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me.

   • c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene ii]:

     Doubtless he shrives this woman, […] / Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.

   • Till my guilty soul be shriven.

2. (religion, transitive) To prescribe penance or absolution.
3. (religion, intransitive or reflexive) To confess, and receive absolution.
   • , The Croppy Boy

     'Twas a good thought, boy, to come here and shrive.

• scribe
• shrift
• Shrove Tuesday

• German: die Beichte abnehmen

• German: die Vergebung der Sünden gewähren, die Absolution erteilen, eine Buße auferlegen