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.
