The verb "shrives" means to hear a confession and give absolution to a person. It is often used in religious contexts, especially in the Catholic church. The IPA phonetic transcription for "shrives" is /ʃraɪvz/. It is spelled with an "s" and not a "c" because the word is derived from the Old English "scrīfan," which was spelled with an "s." Despite its religious associations, the verb "shrives" is not commonly used in everyday conversation.
The verb "shrives" refers to the act of confessing one's sins and seeking forgiveness, often within a religious context. It is derived from the Middle English word "shrive," which means to absolve or grant forgiveness. "Shrives" typically describes the actions performed by a confessor, priest, or religious authority who offers absolution and helps guide individuals on the path of spiritual cleansing.
In its primary sense, "shrives" involves the confidential disclosure of one's wrongdoing or moral failures to a religious figure, such as a priest, who acts as a spiritual advisor. The confessor listens attentively, provides guidance, and offers forgiveness through the sacrament of confession. Through this process, individuals aim to achieve spiritual renewal, shed feelings of guilt, and restore their relationship with their faith.
Beyond its religious connotations, "shrives" can also be figuratively used to describe the act of seeking absolution or redemption in a more general sense. It encompasses the idea of purging oneself of guilt or remorse by acknowledging and rectifying one's actions, seeking forgiveness from those affected, and making amends.
In summary, "shrives" signifies the act of confessing sins, seeking forgiveness, and undergoing spiritual cleansing. Whether within a religious context or broader moral framework, it entails acknowledging one's wrongdoings, taking responsibility, and pursuing a path of repentance and redemption.
The word "shrives" is derived from Middle English "shryven", which comes from Old English "scrīfan". The root of this word is Proto-Germanic "skrībaną", meaning "to write down, to document". In Old English, "scrīfan" also carried the sense of "hear confession, grant absolution", which later developed into the modern understanding of "shriving" or "confessing sins to a priest". Over time, the word "shrives" came to specifically refer to the act of granting absolution or absolving someone of their sins.