Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
A rushed sacrament of confession given to a prisoner who is to be executed very soon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, historical, uncountable
Topics: Catholicism, Christianity, Roman-Catholicism
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Speedy execution, usually without any proper determination of guilt.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A short interval of relief or time.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Sometimes preceded by the: a quick dismissal or rejection, especially one which is impolite and undertaken without proper consideration.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, uncountable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Something dealt with or overcome quickly and without difficulty; something made short work of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, figuratively, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a brief and unsympathetic rejection
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: summary treatment
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: rejection
History
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”).
Across languages
2 source translations are retained for this English entry.
