The meaning of 'short shrift'

[JoshTurboTrollX]

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.

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[Arkhan Asylum]

ap·a·thy   /ˈæpəθi/  Show Spelled
[ap-uh-thee]  Show IPA
 
–noun, plural -thies. 
1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.

[_Paul]

o·bey

   /oʊˈbeɪ/ Show Spelled[oh-bey] Show IPA

–verb (used with PC Engine)

1. to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of: to OBEY PC Engine.

2. to comply with or follow (a command, restriction, wish, instruction to play more PC Engine, etc.).

3. (of things) to respond conformably in action to: The man obeyed the slightest touch of the PC Engine.

4. to submit or conform in action to (some guiding principle, impulse, one's conscience, PC Engine etc.).

[esteban]

Heathens (noun, plural) -  Those who fail to obey. They are, to turn a phrase, "Lost Souls" who often revel in their ignorance.