Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Confession?

\Con*fes"sion\, n. [F. confession, L. 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. --Shak. 2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith. With the mouth confession is made unto salvation. --Rom. x. 10. 3. (Eccl.) 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. --Hallam. 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. {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}.