confess: Meaning and Definition of

con•fess

Pronunciation: (kun-fes'), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to acknowledge or avow (a fault, crime, misdeed, weakness, etc.) by way of revelation.
  2. to own or admit as true: I must confess that I haven't read the book.
  3. to declare or acknowledge (one's sins), esp. to God or a priest in order to obtain absolution.
  4. (of a priest) to hear the confession of (a person).
  5. to acknowledge one's belief or faith in; declare adherence to.
  6. to reveal by circumstances.
—v.i.
  1. to make confession; plead guilty; own: to confess to a crime.
  2. to make confession of sins, esp. to a priest.
  3. (of a priest) to hear confession.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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