/kən'fes; kən`fɛs/
v
1 (a) [I, Ipr, Tn, Tf, Dn.pr] ~ (to sth/doing sth); ~ (sth) (to sb) say or admit, often formally (that one has done wrong, committed a crime, etc) 承认（错误、罪行等）; 供认; 坦白
*The prisoner refused to confess (his crime). 该犯拒不招供（罪行）.
* She finally confessed (to having stolen the money). 她最後招认了（偷了那笔钱）.
* He confessed that he had murdered her. 他供认他杀害了她.
(b) [Ipr, Tf, Cn.a, Cn.t] acknowledge, often reluctantly 承认（常为不情愿地）
*She confessed to (having) a dread of spiders, ie admitted that she was afraid of them. 她承认她害怕蜘蛛.
* I'm rather bored, I must confess. 说老实话, 我真有点厌烦.
* He confessed himself (to be) totally ignorant of their plans. 他承认自己对于他们的计划一无所知.
2 (a) [I, Ipr, Tn, Tn.pr, Tf, Dpr.f] ~ (sth) (to sb) (esp in the Roman Catholic Church) tell (one's sins) formally to a priest （尤指天主教）向神父忏悔, 告罪, 告解
*He confessed (to the priest) that he had sinned. 他（向神父）忏悔他犯了罪.
(b) [Tn] (of a priest) hear the sins of (sb) in this way （指神父）听取（某人）的忏悔
*The priest confessed the criminal. 神父听取那罪犯的忏悔.

v [I and T]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French;Origin: confesser, from Latin confiteri 'to confess', from com- ( COM-) + fateri 'to confess']
to admit, especially to the police, that you have done something wrong or illegal
→confessionconfess to (doing) sth
　Edwards confessed to being a spy for the KGB.
　Occasionally people confess to crimes they haven't committed just to get attention.
confess (that)
　My husband confessed he'd been having an affair with a woman in his office.
　Torture was used and Fian confessed.
to admit something that you feel embarrassed about
→confessionconfess (that)
　Marsha confessed that she didn't really know how to work the computer.
confess to (doing) sth
　He confessed to having a secret admiration for his opponent.
I (have to/must) confess
(=used when admitting something you feel slightly embarrassed about)
　I must confess I don't visit my parents as often as I should.
to tell a priest or God about the wrong things you have done so that you can be forgiven
→confession
　He knelt and confessed his sin .