Shroves

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A historical term denoting individuals who engage in the practice of confession before Lent begins, especially on Shrove Tuesday
2. Referring to those who partake in the ritual of penance and preparation prior to the fasting period of Lent
3. Describing persons who participate in the observance of Shrove Tuesday, often associated with feasting and confession before Lent starts

Etymology: "Shroves" is the third-person singular present form of "shrove," the past tense of "shrive," which means to hear a confession and grant absolution. The verb "shrive" comes from Old English "scrīfan," borrowed from Latin "scribere," to write, since the medieval confessor's role was to set and record penance. So the form you are looking at is a grammatical inflection rather than a separate word, and its story runs through the verb rather than through the noun sense of confessors.