The 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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