Words: shrive, shrift, short shrift [MW]

Main Entry: shrive
Pronunciation: 'shrIv, esp Southern 'srIv
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): shrived or shrove /'shrOv, 'srOv/; shriv·en /'shri-v&n, 'sri-/; or shrived; shriv·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scrIfan to shrive, prescribe (akin to Old High German scrIban to write), from Latin scribere to write -- more at SCRIBE
transitive senses
1 : to administer the sacrament of reconciliation to
2 : to free from guilt
intransitive senses, archaic : to confess one's sins especially to a priest

Main Entry: shrift
Pronunciation: 'shrift, esp Southern 'srift
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scrift, from scrIfan to shrive -- more at SHRIVE
1 archaic a : a remission of sins pronounced by a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation b : the act of shriving : CONFESSION
2 obsolete : CONFESSIONAL

Main Entry: short shrift
Function: noun
1 : barely adequate time for confession before execution
2 a : little or no attention or consideration b : quick work -- usually used in the phrase make short shrift of