Part 2262

<blockquote>Every tongue shall <b>confess</b> to God. <i>Rom. xiv. 11.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To acknowledge; to admit; to concede.</def>

<blockquote>But since (And I <b>confess</b> with right) you think me bound. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Confessant</h1> <Xpage=300>

<hw>Con*fess"ant</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>confessant</ets>.]</ety> <def>One who confesses to a priest.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<h1>Confessary</h1> <Xpage=300>

<hw>Con*fess"a*ry</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>confessarius</ets>.]</ety> <def>One who makes a confession.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bp. Hall.</i>

<h1>Confessedly</h1> <Xpage=300>

<hw>Con*fess"ed*ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>By confession; without denial.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>confessly</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Confesser</h1> <Xpage=300>

<hw>Con*fess"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who makes a confession.</def>

<h1>Confession</h1> <Xpage=300>

<hw>Con*fes"sion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>confession</ets>, L. <ets>confessio</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or crime.</def>

<blockquote>With a crafty madness keeps aloof, When we would bring him on to some <b>confession</b> Of his true state. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.</def>

<blockquote>With the mouth <b>confession</b> is made unto salvation. <i>Rom. x. 10.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Eccl.)</fld> <def>The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest in order to obtain sacramental absolution.</def>

<blockquote>Auricular <b>confession</b> . . . or the private and special <b>confession</b> of sins to a priest for the purpose of obtaining his absolution. <i>Hallam.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>A formulary in which the articles of faith are comprised; a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to admission to membership of a church; a confession of faith.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>An admission by a party to whom an act is imputed, in relation to such act. A judicial confession settles the issue to which it applies; an extrajudical confession may be explained or rebutted.</def>

<i>Wharton.</i>

<cs><col>Confession and avoidance</col> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>a mode of pleading in which the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary, but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal effect claimed for them.</cd></cs>

<i>Mozley & W.</i>

<cs><col>Confession of faith</col>, <cd>a formulary containing the articles of faith; a creed.</cd> -- <col>General confession</col>, <cd>the confession of sins made by a number of persons in common, as in public prayer.</cd> -- <col>Westminster Confession</col>. <cd>See <cref>Westminster Assembly</cref>, under <er>Assembly</er>.</cs>

<h1>Confessional</h1> <Xpage=300>

<hw>Con*fes"sion*al</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>confessional</ets>.]</ety> <def>The recess, seat, or inclosed place, where a priest sits to hear confessions; often a small structure furnished with a seat for the priest and with a window or aperture so that the penitent who is outside may whisper into the priest's ear without being seen by him or heard by others.</def>