short shrift

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)kreybʰ-“to scratch, tear”
2. Latin · derived fromscrībō“to write”
3. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*skrībaną“to write”
4. Old English · inherited fromsċrift“penance, shrift; something prescribed as punishment, penalty; one who passes sentence, a judge”
5. Middle English · inherited fromshrift“confession to a priest; act or instance of this; sacrament of penance; penance assigned by a priest; penitence, repentance; punishment for sin”
6. English todayshort shrift

From short + shrift (“act of going to or hearing a religious confession; confession to a priest”). Shrift is derived from Middle English shrift (“confession to a priest; act or instance of this; sacrament of penance; penance assigned by a priest; penitence, repentance; punishment for sin”) [and other forms], from Old English sċrift (“penance, shrift; something prescribed as punishment, penalty; one who passes sentence, a judge”), from sċrīfan (“of a priest: to prescribe absolution or penance; to pass judgment, ordain, prescribe; to appoint, decree”) (whence shrive), from Proto-Germanic *skrībaną (“to write”), from Latin scrībō (“to write”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreybʰ- (“to scratch, tear”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from late 16th c. A rushed sacrament of confession given to a prisoner who is to be executed very soon.