ˈshrift-ˌfather Obs. exc. arch.
Also 4 schrefvader, 5 schryffader.
[f. shrift n. + father n. (sense 6 a). Cf. ON. skriptafaðer.]
A confessor.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 316 Inouh hit is to siggen so þet þe schrift feder witterliche understonde hwat tu wulle menen. 1340 Ayenb. 38 Hi ssollen do be þe rede of holy cherche oþer be hire ssrifte-uaderes. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 457 Kyng Edredus..sente to his schriftfader [MS. γ schrefvader] Donstan. c 1430 Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 229 To do such penaunce..As þi schrift-fadir þee councellis. a 1450 Myrc 233 How and where he doth þat synne, To hys schryffader he mote þat mynne. 1533 Gau Richt Vay (1888) 3 Quhou thay sal rekkine al thair sinnis to thair schrift fader. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xi. ix, In close and priuate cell, Where (but shrift fathers) neuer mankinde treades. 1853 Rock Ch. of Fathers III. ii. xi. 19 The penitential, a book which only shrift-fathers..might read. 1882 F. J. Child Ballads i. 26/1 Louise then tries her shrift-father. |