confess

acknowledge, admit, confess, recognize, concede

动词 confess:

1. confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
   同义词：squeal, shrive, fink
2. admit, make a clean breast of
   同义词：concede, profess
3. confess to God in the presence of a priest, as in the Catholic faith

1. He confessed that he had never seen her before.
   他承认以前从未见过她。
2. The priest confessed the young man.
   神父听取那个青年的忏悔。

con.fess

v.（动词）
con.fessed,con.fess.ing,con.fess.es
v.tr.（及物动词）
To disclose (something damaging or inconvenient to oneself); admit.See Synonyms at acknowledge
坦白：披露（对自己不利或有害的事物）；承认参见 acknowledge
To acknowledge belief or faith in; profess.
承认信仰或信奉…；公开承认

To make known (one`s sins) to God or to a priest.
忏悔：向上帝或神父忏悔（自己的罪行）
To hear the confession of (a penitent).
聆听（信徒的）忏悔
v.intr.（不及物动词）
To admit or acknowledge something damaging or inconvenient to oneself:
供认：接受或承认一些对自己不利或有害的事物：
例句：
The suspect confessed to the crime.
嫌疑犯供认了罪行

To disclose one`s sins to a priest.
忏悔：向神父忏悔自己的罪行
To listen to a confession.
聆听忏悔

来源：
Middle English confessen
中古英语 confessen
from Old French confesser
源自 古法语 confesser
from Vulgar Latin *cônfess3re
源自 俗拉丁语 *cônfess3re
from Latin cônfitôro cônfess-
源自 拉丁语 cônfitôro cônfess-
com- [intensive pref.] * see com-
com- [前缀，表加强词义] *参见 com-
fatôro [to admit] * see bh3- 2
fatôro [承认] *参见 bh3- 2

【引伸】
confess.able
adj.（形容词）
confess.edly