51Թ

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View synonyms for

confess

[ kuhn-fes ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to acknowledge or avow (a fault, crime, misdeed, weakness, etc.) by way of revelation.

    Antonyms:

  2. to own or admit as true:

    I must confess that I haven't read the book.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

  3. to declare or acknowledge (one's sins), especially 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.


verb (used without object)

  1. to make confession plead guilty; own:

    to confess to a crime.

  2. to make confession of sins, especially to a priest.
  3. (of a priest) to hear confession.

confess

/ əˈɛ /

verb

  1. whenintr, often foll by to to make an acknowledgment or admission (of faults, misdeeds, crimes, etc)
  2. tr to admit or grant to be true; concede
  3. Christianity RC Church to declare (one's sins) to God or to a priest as his representative, so as to obtain pardon and absolution
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • Dzˈڱ, adjective
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • Dz·ڱa· adjective
  • Dz·ڱiԲ adverb
  • 󲹱-Dz·ڱ adjective
  • cDz·ڱ verb (used with object)
  • ܲcDz·ڱ adjective
  • ܲcDz·ڱiԲ adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of confess1

1300–50; Middle English confessen < Anglo-French, Old French confesser < Medieval Latin DzԴڱ, verbal derivative of Latin confessus, past participle of DzԴھŧī to admit, confess, equivalent to con- con- + -ھŧī, combining form of ڲŧī to admit
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of confess1

C14: from Old French confesser, from Late Latin DzԴڱ, from Latin confessus confessed, from DzԴھŧī to admit, from ڲŧī to acknowledge; related to Latin ī to speak
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

According to Italian media, her ex-boyfriend has confessed to her murder.

From

I confess to having a little trouble placing this Rose.

From

For many of the victims of serial abuser John Smyth, and likely many of you reading this, Welby's confessed failures are not just mystifying but deeply alarming.

From

But I confess that I didn't expect to see so many of our major institutions, from corporations to universities to elite law firms, follow their lead.

From

In it, dozens of Chinese officials confess - always to camera - to staggering levels of corruption across a variety of industries.

From

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