Meanings
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1
noun
a priest who hears confessions and grants or pronounces absolution
She asked her confessor for spiritual guidance before making the decision.
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2
noun
a person who admits to an act, belief, or fault
The anonymous confessor described how the records had been altered.
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3
noun
in Christian history, a person who suffered persecution for the faith but was not martyred
The church calendar honors the imprisoned teacher as a confessor rather than a martyr.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English confessor or confessour, through Anglo-French from Latin confessor, 'one who acknowledges,' based on confiteri, 'confess, acknowledge.' Early Christianity used the title for someone who openly professed the faith under persecution; it later also named a priest who receives another person's confession.