Definition of "shrive"

And thenne whan paper & ynke was broughte thenne Gawayn was set vp weykely by kynge Arthur for he was shryuen a lytel tofore and thenne he wrote thus as the Frensshe book maketh mencyon"And then when paper and ink was brought, then Gawaine was set up weakly by King Arthur, for he was shriven a little to-fore; and then he wrote thus, as the French book maketh mention"

1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XXI, Chapter ii, leaf 421v

If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me.

c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iii]

Doubtless he shrives this woman, […] / Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii]

I will not madly deem that powerOf Earth may shrive me of the sinUnearthly pride hath revell’d in— […]

1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems

My sins as scarlet are; let me go hence, / And in some cloister's school of penitence, / Across those stones, that pave the way to heaven, / Walk barefoot, till my guilty soul is shriven!

1863 November 23, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Sicilian’s Tale. King Robert of Sicily.”, in Tales of a Wayside Inn, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, page 67

'Twas a good thought, boy, to come here and shrive.

c. 1798-1845, unknown author, The Croppy Boy