shrift

noun

Etymology: From Middle English shrift (“confession to a priest; act or instance of this; sacrament of penance; penance assigned by a priest; penitence, repentance; punishment for sin”) [and other forms], from Old English sċrift (“penance, shrift; something prescribed as punishment, penalty; one who passes sentence, a judge”), from sċrīfan (“of a priest: to prescribe absolution or penance; to pass judgment, ordain, prescribe; to appoint, decree”) (whence shrive), from Proto-Germanic *skrībaną (“to write”), from Latin scrībō (“to write”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreybʰ- (“to scratch, tear”). Equivalent to shrive + -t.

1. The act of going to or hearing a religious confession.

   “For seldom did she go to chapel-shrift, / And seldom felt she any hunger-pain; [...]”

2. Confession to a priest.
3. Forgiveness given by a priest after confession; remission.

   “[Friar:] Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift. / Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.”