Confession
Confession , noun
[French confession, Latin confessio.]
1.
Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or crime.
With a crafty madness keeps aloof,
When we would bring him on to some confession
Of his true state.
2.
Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.
With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
3.
(Ecclesiastical) The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest in order to obtain sacramental absolution.
Auricular confession... or the private and special confession of sins to a priest for the purpose of obtaining his absolution.
4.
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.
5.
(Law) 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. — Wharton
Collocations (4)
Confession and avoidance (Law) , 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. — Mozley & W
Confession of faith , a formulary containing the articles of faith; a creed.
General confession , the confession of sins made by a number of persons in common, as in public prayer.
Westminster Confession , See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.