shrift

From Old English sċrift, verbal noun of sċrīfan. More at shrive.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ʃɹɪft/
• Rhymes: -ɪft

shrift (countable and uncountable, plural shrifts)

1. The act of going to or hearing a religious confession.
   • 1820, John Keats, "Isabella; or, The Pot of Basil", LIX:

     seldom did she go to chapel-shrift

2. Confession to a priest.
3. (obsolete) Forgiveness given by a priest after confession; remission.
   • circa 1594 CE: William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

     (Friar:) Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift. / Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.

• shrive
• short shrift

• firths, friths