confess

== English == === 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). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /kənˈfɛs/ Rhymes: -ɛs === Verb === confess (third-person singular simple present confesses, present participle confessing, simple past and past participle confessed) (intransitive, transitive) To admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed. (transitive) To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in. (religion) To unburden (oneself) of sins to God or a priest, in order to receive absolution. (transitive, 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. (transitive) To disclose or reveal. (intransitive, chiefly in the context of Japanese media or informal) To profess one's love. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== confession confessional confessor ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== own up come clean