CONFESS', verb transitive [Latin , to own or acknowledge.]

1. To own, acknowledge or avow, as a crime, a fault, a charge, a debt, or something that is against one's interest, or reputation.

Human faults with human grief confess

I confess the argument against me is good and not easily refuted.

let us frankly confess our sins.

'Confess thee freely of thy sins, ' used by Shakespeare, is not legitimate, unless in the sense of Catholics.

2. In the Catholic Church, to acknowledge sins and faults to a priest; to disclose the state of the conscience to a priest, in private, with a view to absolution; sometimes with the reciprocal pronoun.

The beautiful votary confessed herself to this celebrated father.

3. To own, avow or acknowledge; publicly to declare a belief in and adherence to.

Whoever shall confess me before men. Matthew 10:32.

4. To own and acknowledge, as true disciples, friends or children.

Him will I confess before my father who is heaven.

5. To own; to acknowledge; to declare to be true, or to admit or assent to in words; opposed to deny.

Then will I confess to thee, that thine own right hand can save thee. Job 11:1.

These-- confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth. Hebrews 11:13.

6. To show by the effect; to prove; to attest.

Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mold.

7. To hear or receive the confession of another; as, the priest confessed the nuns.

CONFESS', verb intransitive To make confession; to disclose faults, or the state of the conscience; as, this man went to the priest to confess