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to shrove

to shrove

9.9
To listen to someone's confession and tell them they are forgiven
  • verb
  • /ʃrəʊv/
  • Archaic
translation icon : confesar
  • The priest would shrove the villagers every Sunday, granting them absolution for their sins.

So today I shrive yesterday I Shrove, I have shriven.

Examples

  • In ancient times, many believed that if a person was shrove, they would be forgiven before spring.

  • During the winter festival, the old man shrove the townsfolk, reminding them of their moral duties.

  • So today I shrive yesterday I Shrove, I have shriven.

Synonyms

to shrive
vsto shrove
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To hear a person's confession and forgive their sins

is the archaic past tense form of that verb

Compounds

A day before Lent when Christians often eat pancakes

Surface Forms

shrove infinitive
shrove past
shroving present participle
shroves third person singular
shriven past participle

Etymology

Shrove is the old past form of shrive, which comes from an old English verb meaning 'to hear a confession and forgive'. So, to be shrove meant you had confessed and been forgiven, and that is why we still see the word in 'Shrove Tuesday' before Lent.