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short shrift

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia 0.01 sec.
short shrift
n.
1. Summary, careless treatment; scant attention: These annoying memos will get short shrift from the boss.
2. Quick work.
3.
a. A short respite, as from death.
b. The brief time before execution granted a condemned prisoner for confession and absolution.
Word History: To be given short shrift is not the blessing it once was. The source of our verb shrive (shrove, shriven) and noun shrift, which have technical meanings from ecclesiastical Latin, is Classical Latin scrbere, "to write." Shrive comes from the Old English verb scrfan, "to decree, decree after judgment, impose a penance upon (a penitent), hear the confession of." The past participle of scrfan is scrifen, our shriven. The noun shrift, "penance; absolution," comes from Old English scrift with the same meaning, which comes from scrptus, the perfect passive participle of scrbere, and means "what is written," or, to use the Latin word, "what is prescribed." Theologians and confessors viewed the sacrament of penance as a prescription that cured a moral illness. In early medieval times penances were long and arduouslengthy pilgrimages and even lifelong exile were not uncommonand had to be performed before absolution, not after as today. However, less demanding penances could be given in extreme situations; short shrift was a brief penance given to a person condemned to death so that absolution could be granted before execution.

short shrift
n
1. brief and unsympathetic treatment
2. (Historical Terms) (formerly) a brief period allowed to a condemned prisoner to make confession
make short shrift of to dispose of quickly and unsympathetically
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.short shrift - a brief and unsympathetic rejection; "they made short shrift of my request"
rejection - the speech act of rejecting


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
It did not take Michael long to learn this, and stray dogs got short shrift from him.
It had been short shrift for Peter of Colfax that night had not John and Guy and another of his henchmen rushed into the room with drawn swords.
Both men and women were armed with long-swords and daggers, but no firearms were in evidence, else it had been short shrift for the gruesome plant men of Barsoom.
 
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