confessor

or con·fess·er

[ kuhn-fes-er ]

noun

1. a person who confesses.
2. a priest authorized to hear confessions.
3. a person who confesses faith in and adheres to the Christian religion, especially in spite of persecution and torture but without suffering martyrdom.
4. the Confessor. Edward the Confessor.

confessor

/ kənˈfɛsə /

noun

1. Christianity RC Church a priest who hears confessions and sometimes acts as a spiritual counsellor
2. history a person who bears witness to his Christian religious faith by the holiness of his life, esp in resisting threats or danger, but does not suffer martyrdom
3. a person who makes a confession

Word History and Origins

Origin of confessor¹

before 1000; Middle English, Old English (in pl: confessores ) < Late Latin; confess, -tor

Example Sentences

Ministers wrung their hands, the king sent for his confessor, the queen wept—but the nation groaned.

From Project Gutenberg

His confessor brought to court impostors who pretended that they could interrogate the powers of darkness.

From Project Gutenberg

With the confessor, the tumult ceased, and silence was reestablished; everyone conjectured and wondered—the king was confessing.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed; two bottles are reasonable, and if you eat no meat with it, your confessor will have nothing to reproach you with.

From Project Gutenberg

This year they are to appear in a play or poem which the Father Confessor has written for us—dealing with the story of Judith.

From Project Gutenberg