confess

Forms

present (v1): confess
past (v2): confessed
past participle (v3): confessed
present participle: confessing
3rd person singular: confesses

Definitions

1.To admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed.
- I confess to spray-painting all over that mural!
- And there confess / Humbly our faults, and pardon beg.
- I never gave it him. Send for him hither, / And let him confess a truth.
2.To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.
- For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
- Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess, also, before my Father which is in heaven.
3.To unburden (oneself) of sins to God or a priest, in order to receive absolution.
- Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father.
- If we confesse our sinnes, hee is faithfull, & iust to forgiue vs our sinnes, and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse.
4.To hear or receive such a confession of sins from.

Frequency

Overall

Rare· #4079

By learning goal

Everyday conversation: Rare
General reading & writing: Rare
Academic: Rare
Literature: Rare

Etymology

From Middle English confessen, from Anglo-Norman confesser, from Old French confesser, from Latin confessus (Old French confés), past participle of cōnfiteor (“to confess, admit”) from con- + fateor (“to admit”). Displaced Middle English andetten (“to confess, admit”) (from Old English andettan). Doublet of confiteor.