confessv.
/kənˈfɛs/, U.S. /kənˈfɛs/ I. generally.
1. † b. reflexive. To make oneself known, disclose one's identity. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To declare or disclose (something which one has kept or allowed to remain secret as being prejudicial or inconvenient to oneself); to acknowledge, own, or admit (a crime, charge, fault, weakness, or the like). Also absol.
ΚΠ
c1386 G. Chaucer Squire's Tale 486 Myn harm I wol confessen er I pace.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) John i. f. cxixv And he confessed, and denyed nott, and sayde playnly: I am nott Christ.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. ii. 34 Bass. Promise me life, and ile confesse the truth. Portia. Well then, confesse and liue. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 1100 And both confess'd..thir faults, and pardon beg'd. View more context for this quotation
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. ii. 34 Shall we go back again to my Lord, and confess our folly? View more context for this quotation
1706 M. Prior Ode to Queen 92 Human faults with human griefs confess; 'Tis thou art chang'd.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems vi. 16 Whatever is yours to tell or ill or Good, confess it.
1877 J. B. Mozley Univ. Serm. (ed. 3) x. 205 Some will confess this of themselves, and confess it with a kind of pride.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (reflexive)] > disclose one's identity
confess1393
avow1465
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 184 She her wolde nought confesse, Whan they her axen what she was.
c. with subordinate clause stating the thing confessed.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > thoughts or feelings > confess
anyetec1175
confess1604
share1931
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. vi. xiv. 44 Ðe Byschape þan confessyd, how he..gat entre.
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 68 The poore fellow..would rather..confesse hee crucified Iesus Christ, then abide it [sc. the torture] any longer.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. i. 5 He dooes confesse he feeles himselfe distracted. View more context for this quotation
a1699 A. Halkett Autobiogr. (1875) 3 I confese I was guilty of disobedience.
1814 R. Southey Roderick x Confessing how the love Which thus began in innocence, betray'd My unsuspecting heart.
1866 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighb. (1878) xiii. 283 I have to confess that I loved Miss Oldcastle.
d. with object and infinitive complement.The object may be suppressed when a reflexive.pron., and the infinitive when to be.
ΚΠ
1571 Earl of Mortoun's Receipt 22 Jan. in H. Campbell Love Lett. Mary Queen of Scots (1824) 10 James Erle of Mortoun..grantit and confessit him to have ressavit from the said Lord Regent an silver box.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles xxii. 22 I here confesse my selfe the King of Tyre. View more context for this quotation
1628 Discov. Jesuit's Coll. in Camd. Misc. (1852) 22 They confessed themselves to be recusants.
a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) iii. iii. 103 I confesse to measure things by the rules of common wisdome.
1655 Theophania 88 I confess myself as ignorant..as unable, etc.
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. ii. iv. 78 I confess my self to be rather..confounded than convinced.
e. Often introducing a statement made in the form of a disclosure of private feeling or opinion; e.g. ‘I confess that I have my doubts about it’, i.e. I must say that I have, etc.
ΚΠ
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 72 If the Pope sayde he..wrought this reuenge for me, I confesse it offendeth me nothing.
1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Plinius Novocomensis in Panoplie Epist. 254 This exercise, I must confesse, is laborious and painefull.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 18 The hazard I confesse is great.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler Ep. Ded. 5 I do here freely confess, that I should rather excuse my self, then censure others. View more context for this quotation
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 124. ¶3 I must confess I am amazed that the Press should be only made use of in this Way.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) I. 10 I confess that I was quite astonished at his beauty.
2. To acknowledge, concede, grant, admit for oneself (an assertion or claim, that might be challenged). Const. as in 1c, 1d.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (transitive)] > admit a claim (that might be challenged)
confessc1450
c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 4864 He cryed orrybelly and confest clene saint cuthbert halynes.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Eccl. ii. 15 I confessed within my harte, that this also was but vanite.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxx. 196 That..verie law of nature it selfe which all men confesse to be Gods law.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler To Rdr. I did not undertake to write, or to publish this..to please myself..for, I have confest there are many defects in it. View more context for this quotation
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. xlviii. 181 You confess that parliaments are fallible.
1864 J. Bryce Holy Rom. Empire v. 84 The kings of Cyprus and Armenia sent to Henry VI. to confess themselves his vassals and ask his help.
1872 E. Peacock Mabel Heron I. vii. 118 A distorted knowledge, it must be confessed, of religious duty.
3. To acknowledge one's belief that, to avow formally, esp. as an article of faith.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > school of thought > acknowledge belief [verb (transitive)]
confess1509
testify1526
profess1549
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (transitive)] > as an object of faith or belief
confess1509
profess1549
1509 J. Fisher Mornynge Remembraunce Countesse of Rychemonde (de Worde) sig. Bvi [She] confessed assuredly yt in ye sacrament was conteyned cryst Ihesu.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) John ix. f. cxxxiiijv That yff eny man did confesse that he was Christ, he shulde be excommunicat.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Euensong f. vii The ryght fayth is that we beleue and confesse: that our Lorde Jesus Christe the sonne of God, is God and man.
4. To acknowledge or formally recognize (a person or thing) as having a certain character or certain claims; to own, avow, declare belief in or adhesion to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (transitive)]
kenc975
kithec1000
acknowOE
anyetec1175
knowledgec1225
beknowc1325
avow1330
granta1400
acknowledge1481
recognize1509
confess1526
profess1526
testify1526
reacknowledge1550
avouch1606
to take with ——a1653
upgivea1776
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. XXXiii Herken to the gospell, & with all your hert confesse the same.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Svpper of the Lorde f. cxxviiv Al they that do confesse thy holy name.
1557 Bible (Whittingham) Matt. x. 32 Whosoeuer therfore shal confesse me before men, him will I confesse [earlier vv. knowledge] also before my father which is in heauen.
1650 Bp. J. Taylor Rule of Holy Living (1727) 224 We profess it in our Creed, we confess it in our lives.
1848 A. Jameson Sacred & Legendary Art II. 231 He, whom I confess and adore.
1857 J. Ruskin Polit. Econ. Art i. 20 We have long confessed it with our lips, though we refuse to confess it in our lives.
5. figurative. To make known or reveal by circumstances; to be evidence of; to manifest, prove, attest. (poetic.)
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > [verb (transitive)]
uppec897
atewOE
sutelec1000
openOE
awnc1175
kithec1175
forthteec1200
tawnec1220
let witc1275
forthshowa1300
to pilt out?a1300
showa1300
barea1325
mythc1330
unfoldc1374
to open outc1390
assign1398
mustera1400
reyve?a1400
vouchc1400
manifest?a1425
outshowc1425
ostendc1429
explayc1443
objecta1500
reveala1500
patefy?1509
decipher1529
relieve1533
to set outa1540
utter1542
report1548
unbuckle1548
to set forth1551
demonstrate1553
to hold forth1560
testify1560
explicate1565
forthsetc1565
to give show of1567
denudec1572
exhibit1573
apparent1577
display?1578
carry1580
cipher1583
laya1586
foreshow1590
uncloud?1594
vision1594
explain1597
proclaim1597
unroll1598
discloud1600
remonstrate1601
resent1602
to bring out1608
palesate1613
pronounce1615
to speak out1623
elicit1641
confess1646
bear1657
breathe1667
outplay1702
to throw out1741
evolve1744
announce1781
develop1806
exfoliate1808
evince1829
exposit1882
pack1925
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. ii Whose wayes..confess no circumscription. View more context for this quotation
1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea (title page) Thy great endeavors..do confess thou act'st som great design.
1682 J. Dryden Medall 6 And shews the Fiend confess'd, without a vaile.
1700 R. Blackmore Paraphr. Job xiii. 53 Mighty Suff'rings mighty Guilt confess.
1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. ii. 219 The Voice Divine confess'd the Warlike Maid.
1816 R. Southey Dream in Lay of Laureate 58 In re-appearing light confess'd, There stood another Minister of bliss.
1821 W. Scott Pirate II. iii. 66 Even the..strong-headed Magnus himself had confessed the influence of the sleepy god.
6.
a. intransitive. confess to (a thing): To plead guilty to (a charge), own to (a fault or weakness); to admit, acknowledge. With indirect passive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (intransitive)] > plead guilty to (a charge)
confess to1771
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or make revelations [verb (intransitive)] > reveal one's true character > confess
subscribea1616
confess to1771
own1772
admit1830
to make a clean breast of1838
fess1840
to own up1844
to spit it out1855
to make a clean breast of it1878
cough1901
to come clean1919
to spill one's guts (out)1927
tell papa1929
1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. III. 26 These charges he..denied; but he confessed to one of as heinous a nature.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1776 II. 33 [Johnson:] He confesses to one bottle of port every day, and he probably drinks more.
1840 C. J. Lever Harry Lorrequer vi I have already ‘confessed’ to my crying sin..to follow the humour of the moment.
1873 W. Black Princess of Thule xii. 193 He had to confess to a certain sense of failure.
1888 F. Hume Madame Midas i. x. 69 A..damsel, who was thirty-five years of age, and confessed to twenty-two.
b. The use of the verbal noun in this construction appears to arise out of that of the infinitive as in 1d, etc.: cf. the series to confess himself to have (1571 at sense 1d), confess to have, confess to having, of which the last is now most frequent. In some cases also confess to appears to be short for confess to have (or having), as in to confess to [having] a dread: cf. the following.
ΚΠ
1829 R. Southey Sir Thomas More I. 244 I confess to having made free with his tail and his hoofs and his horns.
1845 ‘E. Warburton’ Crescent & Cross (1846) I. Pref. ix I confess to have borrowed freely.
1856 F. E. Paget Owlet of Owlstone Edge 71 Mrs. Brunt confessed to having a natural antipathy to the..Curate.
1865 C. Thirlwall Lett. (1881) II. 47 I confess to a personal dread of frost.
1879 Scribner's Monthly 19 1/1 I confess to finding no little pleasure in [such] explorations. [Cf. ‘I confess to measure’, in sense 1d.]
II. spec.
7. Law.
a. intransitive. To admit the truth of what is charged; to make a confession. to confess and avoid: to admit a charge, but show it to be invalid in law.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (intransitive)]
to be beknowna1300
acknowc1300
knowledgec1384
knowa1400
confess1587
subscribea1616
own1772
testify1785
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (intransitive)] > admit to a charge but show it to be invalid
to confess and avoid1587
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (transitive)] > confess (in law)
confess1587
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > pleading > plead [verb (intransitive)] > plead guilty or not guilty > admit but show charge invalid
to confess and avoid1587
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1272/1 I determine..to confesse and auoid..whatsoeuer imperfections haue now distilled out of my pen.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xix. 190 The good Orator..will first admit it, and in th'end auoid all for his better aduantage, and this figure is much vsed by our English pleaders in the Starchamber and Chancery, which they call to confesse and auoid.
1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) III. 37 He may confess and avoid, confess and justify, or confess and mitigate.
b. transitive. To admit (a thing) as proved, or legally valid.
ΚΠ
1805 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. V. 214 Lord Bolingbroke, by a bond dated 24th July 1770, with warrant of attorney to confess judgment..became bound to the lessee.
1805 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. V. 237 Though the defendant appears to it, and confesses lease, entry, and ouster.
1839 T. Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 40 Certain just and legal impediments then confessed on her part.
8. Christian Church. To acknowledge sins orally as a religious duty, with repentance and desire of absolution.
a. transitive. (Not originally distinct from the general sense in sense 1.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (transitive)] > confess (sins)
showc1175
opena1225
shrivea1300
confessc1386
society > faith > worship > sacrament > confession > make confession [verb (transitive)]
showa1200
shrivea1300
confessc1386
c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋938 It is reson þat he þat trespasseth by his free wyl that by his free wyl he confesse his trespas.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Lev. xvi. 21 Then shal Aaron laie both his handes vpon ye heade of him [the goate], and confesse ouer him all the myszdedes of ye children of Israel.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Svpper of the Lorde f. cxxiiii That you confesse with an vnfained hearte to almightie God, youre synnes and vnkyndnes towardes his Maiestie committed.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Svpper of the Lorde f. cxxiiiiv Let him come to me, or to some other dyscrete and learned priest..and confesse and open his synne & griefe secretly.
1611 Bible (King James) James v. 16 Confesse your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that yee may bee healed. View more context for this quotation
1687 W. Wake Prepar. for Death iii. 107 But if our sin belongs only to him, yet to confess to his Minister is in some sort a fuller satisfaction to his justice.
b. reflexive. To make formal confession of sins, esp. to a priest, in order to receive penance and absolution.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > confession > make confession [verb (reflexive)]
shrive?c1225
confess1377
reconcile1869
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 53 Go confesse þe to sum frere and shewe hym þi synnes.
c1400 Rom. Rose 7697 If ye woll you now confesse, And leve your sinnes more and lesse.
?c1510 tr. Newe Landes & People founde by Kynge of Portyngale sig. C.iv They confesse them to god alone and none prestes.
1552 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16279) Administr. Lordes Supper sig. N.iii Bewaile your own sinful liues, confesse your selfes to almightie god with ful purpose of amendment of life.
?1556 (a1500) Knight of Curtesy (Copland) sig. B*.iv She confessed her deuoutly tho And shortely receyued the sacrament.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 6 Our Captain thought his Ship in so great Danger, that he fell upon his Knees and confess'd himself to a Capuchin..on Board.
1850 A. Jameson Legends Monastic Orders 278 The young count..confessed himself, set his house in order.
c. with of. Also in transferred sense.
ΚΠ
c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋245 He moste confessen hym of alle the condiciouns that bilongen to his synne.
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 89 In this wise I me confesse Of that ye clepe unbuxomnesse.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) v. ii. 58 Confesse thee freely of thy sinne. View more context for this quotation
1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. (1646) i. 75 They confesse themselves of all their sinnes to the Priest.
d. intransitive in same sense as the reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > confession > make confession [verb (intransitive)]
to go, come to shrift1008
shrivea1300
to be confessed ofc1400
to seek to shriftc1400
confess1597
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iv. i. 23 Par: What come ye to confession to this Fryer. Iul: To tell you that were to confesse to you. View more context for this quotation
1812 J. Brady Clavis calendaria I. 198 Prior to the Reformation, every communicant..was obliged individually to confess to his parish priest.
1880 ‘Ouida’ Moths II. 314 For she does go to confess.
9. absolute.1840 T. B. Macaulay Ranke's Hist. in Ess. (1851) II. 141 The faithful servant of the Church was preaching, catechising, confessing, beyond the Niemen.
a. transitive. Of the priest: To hear the confession of, to act as a confessor to, to shrive. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > confession > make confession [verb (transitive)] > hear confession, shrive
shrivea776
unbindc950
assoil1297
soila1300
confess1377
releasec1405
absoil1440
absolve1528
shrift1611
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 76 Ich haue moche merueille..Why ȝowre couent coueyteth to confesse and to burye, Rather þan to baptise barnes.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) vii. 19 The preest cam, and confessid him.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxii. 217 He confessyd Huon and assoylled hym of all his synnes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 526 I haue confes'd her, and I know her vertue. View more context for this quotation
a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) i. 48 A Priest visited her, to confess her every Day.
1889 Tablet 28 Dec. 1053 I went to see and confess an old man.
b. passive. Of the penitent: To be shriven: often = 8b to be confessed of: to be assoiled of by confession.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > confession > make confession [verb (intransitive)]
to go, come to shrift1008
shrivea1300
to be confessed ofc1400
to seek to shriftc1400
confess1597
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2391 Þou art confessed so clene, be-knowen of þy mysses.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Add. MS.) xcv. 425 A grete man..that was not confessid of a longe tyme.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur xi. iv I counceyle yow said the kynge to be confessid clene. As for that said sire Bors I wille be shryuen with a good wylle.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxxxiii. 260 I know one [synne]..the whiche as yet ye were neuer confessyd of.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. viii. 346 A Peasant..was confessed, and receiued the Sacrament.
10. confess and be hanged: a proverbial phrase, found with variations and frequent allusive application in 16–17th centuries.It is uncertain whether the ‘confess’ referred originally to shriving or to confession of crime. From the Pepys quot., the use of the expression appears to have been a degree ruder than saying ‘You lie’.
ΚΠ
c1592 C. Marlowe Jew of Malta iv. ii Blame not us, but the proverb,—Confess and be hanged.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1623) iv. i. 37 To confesse, and be hang'd for his labour. First, to be hang'd, and then to confesse.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Warw. 119 The simple Earl was perswaded..to confess the fact..and so..soon after found the Proverb true, Confess and be Beheaded.
1662 S. Pepys Diary 7 Sept. (1970) III. 191 The young Queen [Katherine] answered, ‘you lye’; which was the first English word that I ever heard her say. Which made the King good sport, and he would have taught her to say in English, ‘Confess and be hanged’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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