confess Hear it!

confess definition

con·fess (kən fes)

transitive verb

    1. to admit (a fault or crime)
    2. to acknowledge (an opinion or view)
  1. to declare one's faith in
  2. Old Poet. to be evidence of; reveal; manifest
  3. Eccles.
    1. to tell (one's sins) to God, esp. in public worship service or in private
    2. to hear the confession of (a person): said of a priest

Etymology: ME confessen < OFr confesser < ML(Ec) *confessare < L confessus, pp. of confiteri, to acknowledge, confess < com-, together + fateri, to acknowledge; akin to fari, to speak: see fame

intransitive verb

  1. to admit a fault or crime; acknowledge one's guilt
  2. Eccles.
    1. to take part in public confession or make one's confession to a priest
    2. to hear confessions: said of a priest
confess Idioms

confess to

to admit or admit having; acknowledge

stand confessed as

to be revealed or admitted as

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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