That they should shrive their parishioners. --Piers
Plowman.
Doubtless he shrives this woman, . . . Else ne'er
could he so long protract his speech. --Shak.
Till my guilty soul be shriven. --Longfellow.
2. To confess, and receive absolution; -- used reflexively.
Get you to the church and shrive yourself. --Beau. &
Fl.
{Shrove Sunday}, Quinguagesima Sunday.
{Shrove Tuesday}, the Tuesday following Quinguagesima Sunday,
and preceding the first day of Lent, or Ash Wednesday.
Note: It was formerly customary in England, on this day, for
the people to confess their sins to their parish
priests, after which they dined on pancakes, or
fritters, and the occasion became one of merriment. The
bell rung on this day is popularly called Pancake Bell,
and the day itself Pancake Tuesday. --P. Cyc.