confess

present singular third person confesses · participle present confessing · participle past confessed · past confessed

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

   I confess that I am a sinner.

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   I confess to spray-painting all over that mural!

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

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

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

   1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

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

   1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   Sandusky needs to confess his guilt, said an attorney for the person identified in court as Victim No. 4.

   2012 October 8, Susan Candiotti and Jason Carroll, “Jerry Sandusky proclaims his innocence in jailhouse audio recording”, in CNN

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

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

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 23:8

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

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 10:32

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

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

   1710 September 17 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “WEDNESDAY, September 7, 1710”, in The Spectator, number 1647; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC

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

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 John 1:9

4. transitivelifestyleTo 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.

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

   1867, W. K. Kelly, The Decameron: or ten day's entertainment of Boccaccio. A revised translation

5. transitiveTo disclose or reveal.

   Tall thriving trees confess;d the fruitful mould.

   1725, Homer, “Book VII”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume II, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC

6. intransitiveTo profess one's love.