The act of going to or hearing a religious confession. / Confession to a priest. / (obsolete) Forgiveness given by a priest after confession; remission.

plural of shrift

(countable, uncountable, chiefly Roman Catholicism, historical) A rushed sacrament of confession given to a prisoner who is to be executed very soon.

plural of short shrift

A priest who listens to confessions.

plural of shrift father

(obsolete) A confessor; a priest who hears confessions.

plural of shriftfather