What does shriving mean?
“Shriving” is the present participle of the archaic verb “shrive,” meaning to hear a person's confession and pronounce absolution. In modern English, it is most often associated with the spiritual preparation of someone who is dying or near death, although historically it could refer more generally to the act of confession and absolution. The word has a distinctly religious and solemn character and survives mainly in literary, historical, and traditional contexts rather than ordinary contemporary speech. It is related to forms such as “shriven,” the past participle of “shrive,” and “shriver,” a noun for a priest who hears confessions. Because it describes a formal religious act rather than everyday forgiveness or emotional absolution, “shriving” should generally be reserved for contexts where that older sense is intended.
verbPresent participle of shrive: to hear a person's confession and pronounce or grant absolution, especially as part of preparation for death.
- To hear a confession and pronounce absolution, especially for someone who is dying.
"The priest spent the night shriving the dying man before sunrise."
"The dying woman called for the priest to shrive her before she passed away."
"In the old account, the monk spent the evening shriving pilgrims and preparing them for death."
A word associated with the final confession and forgiveness a person might seek before death.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shriving come from?
“Shrive” comes from Old English “scrīfan,” meaning to confess, grant absolution, or impose a penance. The word was related to Old Norse “skrifta,” and both forms reflect a Germanic root associated with writing or confession. In Middle English, the verb developed the sense of hearing a confession and granting absolution, especially before death. The modern “shriving” form preserves the older verb's -ing ending.
Related word forms
How shriving is actually used
Now largely archaic or confined to religious and historical contexts. It is normally used in the present participle form, especially with a dying person, and has an elevated, solemn register.
Easily confused with shriving
“Shrieving” is the usual spelling of the verbal noun or gerund meaning the act of shiving, whereas “shriving” is the present participle of the verb “shrive.”