confess

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

• IPA^(key): /kənˈfɛs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛs

confess (third-person singular simple present confesses, present participle confessing, simple past and past participle confessed)

1. To admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed.

   I confess to spray-painting all over that mural!

   I confess, that I am a sinner.

   • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare

     I never gave it him. Send for him hither, / And let him confess a truth.

   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     And there confess / Humbly our faults, and pardon beg.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Addison

     I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none of them have mentioned.

2. To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Matthew x. 32

     Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess, also, before my Father which is in heaven.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Acts xxiii. 8

     For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

3. (religion) To unburden (oneself) of sins to God or a priest, in order to receive absolution.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Addison

     Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father.

4. (religion) To hear or receive such a confession of sins from.
   • 1523–1525, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners (translator), Froissart's Chronicles

     He […] heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most part of his company were confessed.

5. To disclose or reveal.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope

     Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mould.

• fess, fess up

• confession
• confessional
• confessor

• own up
• come clean