die roaring for a priest en · VERB
Etymology
Variation of die roaring; in Catholicism, without a priest a dying person cannot receive the sacraments of confession or extreme unction.
Meanings
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(Ireland, colloquial, dated) To repent too late of one's sins; (hence) be damned.
“God’s curse down on you, Burke; may you never lie quiet in bed; may your children wither and die; may your rooftree fall; may your seed and breed in every generation from this day forward bring forth a thief or a murderer of his own kind; may brother rise against brother in every generation; may you never see the face of God; may you live to see the ruin of your family; may you die roaring for the priest and him far away—”
1973, Eilís Dillon, Across the Bitter Sea, page 436:Suffice it to say that the barman physically hustled him towards the door, as Gus struggled and shouted, "I hope you die roaring for a priest."
1996, Marian Keyes, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, Poolbeg, →ISBN, page 654:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| dies roaring for a priest | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| die roaring for the priest | alternative | lexicographic | |
| died roaring for a priest | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| died roaring for a priest | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| dying roaring for a priest | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |