confession English · revision 15355

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1377|origins=la fateor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kənˈfɛʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|confessioun]], [[bor|frm|confession]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|cōnfessiō|t=confession, acknowledgement]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from the past participle of [[m|la|cōnfiteor|t=to acknowledge]] (see [[confess]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|com-]] and [[m|la|fateor|t=to admit]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The confessing of sins to a priest: 1377 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) originally as one of the four parts of the sacrament of penance.^(Etymonline) Old English words for it were [[m|ang|andettung]] and [[m|ang|scriftspræc]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Acknowledgement of a statement or claim is from about 1380,^(OED 1989) and the matter confessed from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A formulary acknowledging sinfulness, as in the prayer book, is from 1535,^(OED 1989) and a formal statement of the articles of a faith from the 16th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In law, an acknowledgement before an authority is from 1574,^(OED 1989) while the general disclosure of anything one is ashamed to reveal dates from 1602.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1377 – confession to a priest.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – an admission.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – the thing confessed.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1574 – legal confession.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An admission of having done wrong, especially a statement by an accused person acknowledging [[guilt]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # In some Christian churches, the confessing of one's sins to a [[priest]] for [[absolution]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something confessed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A formal declaration of religious belief, or the church holding it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[confessional]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[confess]]

+ * [[confessor]]

+ * [[profess]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}