confess

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To admit that you have done something wrong.

   He finally confessed that he had taken the money.

2. 2
   verb

   To admit something embarrassing or reluctantly, often about yourself.

   I must confess that I have never read the book.

3. 3
   verb

   To tell your sins to God or a priest in order to be forgiven.

   She goes to church every week to confess.

From Middle English confessen, from Anglo-Norman confesser, from Old French confesser, from Latin confessus (Old French confés), past participle of cōnfiteor (“to confess, admit”) from con- + fateor (“to admit”). Displaced Middle English andetten (“to confess, admit”) (from Old English andettan). Doublet of confiteor. Sense 6 is a calque of 告白 (kokuhaku).

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