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confess

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The definition of confess is to admit wrongdoings or to make something known.

(verb)

An example of to confess is to tell sins to a priest.
An example of to confess is for a person to state that he is a Christian.

See confess in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

1. to admit (a fault or crime)
2. to acknowledge (an opinion or view)
to declare one's faith in
Old Poet. to be evidence of; reveal; manifest
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

Origin: 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

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

See confess in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb con·fessed, con·fess·ing, con·fess·es

verb, transitive

To disclose (something damaging or inconvenient to oneself); admit. See Synonyms at acknowledge.
To acknowledge belief or faith in; profess.
a. To make known (one's sins) to God or to a priest.
b. To hear the confession of (a penitent).

verb, intransitive

To admit or acknowledge something damaging or inconvenient to oneself: The suspect confessed to the crime.
a. To disclose one's sins to a priest.
b. To listen to a confession.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English confessen

Origin: , from Old French confesser

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *cōnfessāre

Origin: , from Latin cōnfitērī, cōnfess-

Origin: : com-, intensive pref.; see com-

Origin: + fatērī, to admit; see bhā-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: