general confession

1 definition found

general confession - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.
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              With a crafty madness keeps aloof,
              When we would bring him on to some confession
              Of his true state.                    --Shak.
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     2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.
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              With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
                                                    --Rom. x. 10.
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     3. (Eccl.) The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest
        in order to obtain sacramental absolution.
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              Auricular confession . . . or the private and
              special confession of sins to a priest for the
              purpose of obtaining his absolution.  --Hallam.
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     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.
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     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.
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     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.
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     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.
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