Middle English Dictionary Entry
unshriven ppl.
Entry Info
| Forms | unshriven ppl. Also unshrive, unshriwin, unshrevin, unscrive(n, onshrevin, (SW) unssrive & (error) uschryvyn. |
| Etymology | From shriven , p.ppl. of shrīven v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons: unconfessed; unabsolved of sins; also, effectively unabsolved, as good as unshriven [quot. c1300];
(b) of sins: not confessed; unremitted through the sacrament of penance;
(c) as noun: the failure to confess sin, to be unconfessed.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)162/8 : An oþer…wes for neh fordemet for þi þet he hefde en chearre i ned a mon to drinken & deide þrof unschriuen.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)421/50 : ‘Go we to sire Gilbert þe preost…he wollez schriue us nessche i-nouȝ and ore sunnes al for-ȝyue’…ȝwane huy habbez al ido, hom huy gothþ vn-schriue, For heore penaunce schal beo so luyte þat…huy…Schullen gon a-deuelewey bote god nime ȝeme heom to.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)131/91 : A mon were betere for is sunne be[o] sori and vnssriue Þanne issriue wiþoute sorinesse.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)12143 : Shryfte ys þe ȝate of heuene…And, þo þat vnshryue be, þere þey gete none entre.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23122 : Vn-scriuen [Trin-C: vnshryuen; Frf: vn-shriuin; Phys-E: Unscriuin] war þai at þair end, Bot deied in dedli sin o ded.
b
- c1390(a1325) Ipotis (Vrn)431 : Hou fele sunnes beoþ vnschriuen [vrr. on-schrevyn; vnscryue; vn schryuyn; uschrywyn] Þat god of heuene nul not forȝiuen?
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11832 : A synne…þat þou with-helde was nat forȝyue; Þou shewedest hyt nat, hyt ys vnshryue.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26757 : Þis entrail in fire þat brennes Bi-takens þin vn-scriuen sinnes.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)181/28 : For on dedly synne, vnschreuyn, þou schalt be dampnyd.
c
- c1475 Ipotis (Dc 323)p.20 : What letteth a man to do penaunce?…Glotonye is on, unschryven is anoþer, Wanhope hit is þe þridde.