To confess is to admit that you have done something wrong or embarrassing, often openly or to someone in authority. It can also mean openly stating what you believe or feel.
From Latin 'confiteri', meaning 'to acknowledge, admit', from 'com-' and 'fateri' ('to admit, to say'). It came into English via Old French 'confesser', used in both religious and legal contexts.
Confessing feels risky because you’re handing someone else the truth they could use against you. But throughout history, confession has also been seen as cleansing—a way to drop the weight of secrets and start fresh.
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