confess

One entry found for confess.

Main Entry: con·fess
Pronunciation: k&n-'fes
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French confesser, from confés having confessed, from Latin confessus, past participle of confitEri to confess, from com- + fatEri to confess; akin to Latin fari to speak -- more at BAN
transitive verb
1 : to tell or make known (as something wrong or damaging to oneself) : ADMIT <he confessed his guilt>
2 a : to acknowledge (sin) to God or to a priest b : to receive the confession of (a penitent)
3 : to declare faith in or adherence to : PROFESS
4 : to give evidence of
intransitive verb
1 a : to disclose one's faults; specifically : to unburden one's sins or the state of one's conscience to God or to a priest b : to hear a confession
2 : ADMIT, OWN <confess to a crime>
synonym see ACKNOWLEDGE
- con·fess·able /-'fe-s&-b&l/ adjective