confess

verb

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. Sense 6 is a calque of 告白 (kokuhaku).

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.”

2. To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.

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

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

3. To unburden (oneself) of sins to God or a priest, in order to receive absolution.

   “If we confesse our sinnes, hee is faithfull, & iust to forgiue vs our sinnes, and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse.”

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

4. 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.”

   “A jealous man confesses his wife under a priest's habit, who tells him that she is visited every night by a friar; […]”

5. To disclose or reveal.

   “Tall thriving trees confess;d the fruitful mould.”

6. To profess one's love.