What is the word origin for the word shrift?

Answer 1

Shrift is the noun form of the verb to shrive, which means to be forgiven. In Shakespeare, it refers exclusively to the sacrament of confession in Catholicism. Thus when Hamlet fakes the death-warrant for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he says they should be "put to sudden death, no shriving time allowed", that is, not allowing them the sacrament of confession, so they must go to purgatory, rather than to heaven.

In Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse asks "have you got leave to go to shrift today?" which means "Do you have permission to go to confession?". Shrift, or confession, was the only excuse Juliet could use to get out of the house, and she uses it twice, to get married and to consult with Friar Lawrence.

Answer 2

The words 'short shrift' comes from old English, it was time given to condemned prisoner to make his confession to a Priest.. The origin of the word was 'scrift' meaning something of little or no consequence

Answer 3

Shrift is the noun form of the verb to shrive, which means to be forgiven. It refers almost exclusively to the sacrament of confession in Catholicism.