earshrift en · NOUN
Etymology
From ear + shrift.
Meanings
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(colloquial, obsolete, rare, uncountable) auricular confession; shrift
In this earshrift (auricular confession) are wrought their malicious mysteries. In it the poor simple creatures are taught to delight in ignorance, and to beware of the reading or hearing of the Scripture in the English tongue, contrary to Christ.
1827, Henry Soames, The History of the Reformation of the Church of England: