confesse

Verb

confess (third-person singular simple present confesses, present participle confessing, simple past and past participle confessed)

1. (intransitive, transitive) To admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed.
   • I confess to spray-painting all over that mural!
2. (transitive) To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.
   • Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess, also, before my Father which is in heaven.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 10:32
3. To unburden (oneself) of sins to God or a priest, in order to receive absolution.
   • If we confesse our sinnes, hee is faithfull, & iust to forgiue vs our sinnes, and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 John 1:9
4. (transitive) To hear or receive such a confession of sins from.
   • He […] heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most part of his company were confessed.1523–1525, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners (translator), Froissart's Chronicles
5. (transitive) To disclose or reveal.
   • Tall thriving trees confess;d the fruitful mould.1725, Homer, “Book VII”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume II, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC
6. (intransitive) To profess one's love.