The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 319
Con*fer"va (?) , n. ; pl. Conferv\'91 (#) . [L., a kind of water plant. See Comfrey .] (Bot.) Any unbranched, slender, green plant of the fresh-water algae. The word is frequently used in a wider sense.
Confervaceous <Xpage=300>
Con`fer*va"ceous (?) , a. Belonging to the confervae.
Confervoid <Xpage=300>
Con*fer"void (?) , a. [ Conferva + -oid .] Like, or related to, the confervae.
Loudon.
Confervous <Xpage=300>
Con*fer"vous (?) , a. Pertaining to confervae; consisting of, or resembling, the confervae.
Yon exiguous pool's confervous scum. O. W. Holmes.
Confess <Xpage=300>
Con*fess" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Confessed (?) ; p.pr. & vb.n. Confessing .] [F. confesser , fr. L. confessus , p.p. of confiteri to confess; con- + fateri to confess; akin to fari to speak. See 2d Ban , Fame .] 1. To make acknowledgment or avowal in a matter pertaining to one's self; to acknowledge, own, or admit, as a crime, a fault, a debt.
And there confess Humbly our faults, and pardon beg. Milton.
I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none of them have mentioned. Addison.
2. To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.
Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess , also, before my Father which is in heaven. Matt. x. 32.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Acts xxiii. 8.
3. To admit as true; to assent to; to acknowledge, as after a previous doubt, denial, or concealment.
I never gave it him. Send for him hither, And let him confess a truth. Shak.
As I confess it needs must be. Tennyson.
As an actor confessed without rival to shine. Goldsmith.
4. (Eccl.) (a) To make known or acknowledge, as one's sins to a priest, in order to receive absolution; -- sometimes followed by the reflexive pronoun.
Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father. Addison.
(b) To hear or receive such confession; -- said of a priest.
He . . . heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most part of his company were confessed . Ld. Berners.
5. To disclose or reveal, as an effect discloses its cause; to prove; to attest.
Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mold. Pope.
Syn. -- Admit; grant; concede; avow; own; assent; recognize; prove; exhibit; attest. -- To Confess , Acknowledge , Avow . Acknowledge is opposed to conceal . We acknowledge what we feel must or ought to be made known. (See Acknowledge .) Avow is opposed to withhold . We avow when we make an open and public declaration, as against obloquy or opposition; as, to avow one's principles; to avow one's participation in some act. Confess is opposed to deny . We confess (in the ordinary sense of the word) what we feel to have been wrong; as, to confess one's errors or faults. We sometimes use confess and acknowledge when there is no admission of our being in the wrong; as, this, I confess , is my opinion; I acknowledge I have always thought so; but in these cases we mean simply to imply that others may perhaps think us in the wrong, and hence we use the words by way of deference to their opinions. It was in this way that the early Christians were led to use the Latin confiteor and confessio fidei to denote the public declaration of their faith in Christianity; and hence the corresponding use in English of the verb confess and the noun confession .
Confess <Xpage=300>
Con*fess" , v. i. 1. To make confession; to disclose sins or faults, or the state of the conscience.
Every tongue shall confess to God. Rom. xiv. 11.
2. To acknowledge; to admit; to concede.
But since (And I confess with right) you think me bound. Tennyson.
Confessant <Xpage=300>
Con*fess"ant (?) , n. [F. confessant .] One who confesses to a priest. [Obs.]
Bacon.
Confessary <Xpage=300>
Con*fess"a*ry (?) , n. [LL. confessarius .] One who makes a confession. [Obs.]
Bp. Hall.
Confessedly <Xpage=300>
Con*fess"ed*ly (?) , adv. By confession; without denial. [Written also confessly .]
Confesser <Xpage=300>
Con*fess"er (?) , n. One who makes a confession.
Confession <Xpage=300>
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.
With a crafty madness keeps aloof, When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state. Shak.
2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.
With the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom. x. 10.
3. (Eccl.) The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest in order to obtain sacramental absolution.
Auricular confession . . . or the private and special confession of sins to a priest for the purpose of obtaining his absolution. Hallam.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
Confessional <Xpage=300>
Con*fes"sion*al (?) , n. [F. confessional .] The recess, seat, or inclosed place, where a priest sits to hear confessions; often a small structure furnished with a seat for the priest and with a window or aperture so that the penitent who is outside may whisper into the priest's ear without being seen by him or heard by others.
Confessional <Xpage=300>
Con*fes"sion*al , a. Pertaining to a confession of faith.
Confessional equality , equality before the law of persons confessing different creeds.
Confessionalism <Xpage=300>
Con*fes"sion*al*ism (?) , n. (Eccl.) An exaggerated estimate of the importance of giving full assent to any particular formula of the Christian faith.
Shaff.
Confessionalist <Xpage=300>
Con*fes"sion*al*ist , n. A priest hearing, or sitting to hear, confession. [R.]
Boucher
Confessionary <Xpage=300>
Con*fes"sion*a*ry (?) , n. [LL. confessionarium .] A confessional. [Obs.]
Johnson.
Confessionary <Xpage=300>
Con*fes"sion*a*ry , a. Pertaining to auricular confession; as, a confessionary litany .
Confessionist <Xpage=300>
Con*fes"sion*ist , n. [Cf. F. confessioniste .] One professing a certain faith.
Bp. Montagu.
Confessor <Xpage=300>
Con*fess"or (?; 277) , n. [OF. confessor , F. confesseur , fr. L. & LL. confessor .] 1. One who confesses; one who acknowledges a fault, or the truth of a charge, at the risk of suffering; specifically, one who confesses himself a follower of Christ and endures persecution for his faith.
He who dies for religion is a martyr; he who suffers for it is a confessor . Latham.
Our religion which hath been sealed with the blood of so many martyrs and confessors . Bacon.
2. A priest who hears the confessions of others and is authorized to grant them absolution.
Confessorship <Xpage=300>
Con*fess"or*ship , n. The act or state of suffering persecution for religious faith.
Our duty to contend even to confessorship . J. H. Newman.
Confestly <Xpage=300>
Con*fest"ly (?) , adv. See Cofessedly .
Confidant; 277, n. masc., Confidante <Xpage=300>
Con`fi*dant" (?) ; 277), n. masc. , Con`fi*dante" (?; 277) , n. fem. [F. confident , confidente , formerly also spelt confidant , confidante . See Confide , and cf. Confident .] One to whom secrets, especially those relating to affairs of love, are confided or intrusted; a confidential or bosom friend.
You love me for no other end Than to become my confidant and friend; As such I keep no secret from your sight. Dryden.
Confide <Xpage=300>
Con*fide" (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p.p. Confided ; p.pr. & vb.n. Confiding .] [L. confidere ; con- + fidere to trust. See Faith , and cf. Affiance .] To put faith ( in ); to repose confidence; to trust; -- usually followed by in ; as, the prince confides in his ministers .
By thy command I rise or fall, In thy protection I confide . Byron.
Judge before friendships, then confide till death. Young.
Confide <Xpage=300>
Con*fide" , v. t. To intrust; to give in charge; to commit to one's keeping; -- followed by to .
Congress may . . . confide to the Circuit jurisdiction of all offenses against the United States. Story.
Confidence <Xpage=300>
Con"fi*dence (?) , n. [L. confidentia firm trust in, self-confidence: cf. F. confidence .] 1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of , now commonly by in .
Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. South.
A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God . Macaulay.
2. That in which faith is put or reliance had.
The Lord shall be thy confidence . Prov. iii. 26.
3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstamces; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed.
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence ; Do not go forth to-day. Shak.
But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. Milton.
4. Private conversation; ( pl. ) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them .
Sir, I desire some confidence with you. Shak.
Confidence game , any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler. -- Confidence man , a swindler. -- To take into one's confidence , to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.
Syn. -- Trust; assurance; expectation; hope.
I am confident that very much be done. Boyle.
2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved.
Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself. Shak.
3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted.
As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. Shak.
4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous.
The fool rageth and is confident . Prov. xiv. 16.
5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.]
The cause was more confident than the event was prosperious. Jer. Taylor.
Confident <Xpage=300>
Con"fi*dent , n. See Confidant .
South. Dryden.
Confidential <Xpage=300>
Con`fi*den"tial (?) , a. [Cf. F. confidentiel .] 1. Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk .
2. Communicated in confidence; secret. " Confidential messages."
Burke.
Confidential communication (Law) See Privileged communication , under Privileged . -- Confidential creditors , those whose claims are of such a character that they are entitled to be paid before other creditors. -- Confidential debts , debts incurred for borrowed money, and regarded as having a claim to be paid before other debts.
McElrath.
Confidentially <Xpage=300>
Con`fi*den"tial*ly (?) , adv. In confidence; in reliance on secrecy.
Confidently <Xpage=300>
Con"fi*dent*ly (?) , adv. With confidence; with strong assurance; positively.
Confidentness <Xpage=300>
Con"fi*dent*ness , n. The quality of being confident.
Confider <Xpage=300>
Con*fid"er (?) , n. One who confides.
Confiding <Xpage=300>
Con*fid"ing , a. That confides; trustful; unsuspicious. -- Con*fid"ing*ly , adv. -- Con*fid"ing*ness , n.
Configurate <Xpage=300>
Con*fig"ur*ate (?) , v. i. [L. configuratus , p.p. of configurare to form or after; con- + figurare to form, figura form. See Figure .] To take form or position, as the parts of a complex structure; to agree with a pattern.
Known by the name of uniformity; Where pyramids to pyramids relate And the whole fabric doth configurate . Jordan.
Configuration <Xpage=300>
Con*fig`u*ra"tion (?) , n. [L. configuratio .] 1. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing' shape; figure.
It is the variety of configurations [of the mouth] . . . which gives birth and origin to the several vowels. Harris.
2. (Astrol.) Relative position or aspect of the planets; the face of the horoscope, according to the relative positions of the planets at any time.
They [astrologers] undertook . . . to determine the course of a man's character and life from the configuration of the stars at the moment of his birth. Whewell.
Configure <Xpage=300>
Con*fig"ure (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Configured (?) ; p.pr. & vb.n. Configuring .] [L. configurare : cf. F. configurer . See Configurate .] To arrange or dispose in a certain form, figure, or shape.
Bentley.
Confinable <Xpage=300>
Con*fin"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being confined, restricted, or limited.
Not confinable to any limits. Bp. Hall.
Confine <Xpage=300>
Con*fine" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Confined (?) ; p.pr. & vb.n. Confining .] [F. confiner to border upon, LL. confinare to set bounds to; con- + finis boundary, end. See Final , Finish .] To restrain within limits; to restrict; to limit; to bound; to shut up; to inclose; to keep close.
Now let not nature's hand Keep the wild flood confined ! let order die! Shak.
He is to confine himself to the compass of numbers and the slavery of rhyme. Dryden.
To be confined , to be in childbed.
Syn. -- To bound; limit; restrain; imprison; immure; inclose; circumscribe; restrict.
Confine <Xpage=300>
Con"fine (?) or (<?/); 277), v. i. To have a common boundary; to border; to lie contiguous; to touch; -- followed by on or with . [Obs.]
Where your g;oomy bounds Confine with heaven. Milton.
Beywixt hezven and earth and skies there stands a place. Confuining on all three. Dryden.
Confine <Xpage=300>
Con"fine (?) , n. 1. Common boundary; border; limit; -- used chiefly in the plural.
Events that came to pass within the confines of Judea. Locke.
And now in little space The confines met of emryrean heaven, And of this world. Milton.
On the confines of the city and the Temple. Macaulay.
2. Apartment; place of restraint; prison. [Obs.]
Confines , wards, and dungeons. Shak.
The extravagant and erring spirit hies To his confine . Shak.
Confineless <Xpage=300>
Con"fine`less (? ∨ ?) , a. Without limitation or end; boundless.
Shak.
Confinement <Xpage=300>
Con*fine"ment (?) , n. 1. Restraint within limits; imprisonment; any restraint of liberty; seclusion.
The mind hates restraint, and is apt to fancy itself under confinement when the sight is pent up. Addison.
2. Restraint within doors by sickness, esp. that caused by childbirth; lying-in.
Confiner <Xpage=300>
Con*fin"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, limits or restrains.
Confiner <Xpage=300>
Con"fi`ner (? ∨ <?/) , n. One who lives on confines, or near the border of a country; a borderer; a near neighbor. [Obs.]
Bacon.
Happy confiners you of other lands, That shift your soil, and oft 'scape tyrants' hands. Daniel.
Confinity <Xpage=300>
Con*fin"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. confinit\'82 .] Community of limits; contiguity. [R.]
Bailey.
Confirm <Xpage=300>
Con*firm" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Confrmed (?) ; p.pr. & vb.n. Confirming .] [OE. confermen , confirmen , OF. confermer , F. confirmer , fr. L. confirmare ; con- + firmare to make firm, fr. firmus firm. See Firm .] 1. To make firm or firmer; to add strength to; to establish; as, health is confirmed by exercise .
Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs. Shak.
Annd confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law. Ps. cv. 10.
2. To strengthen in judgment or purpose.
Confirmed , then, I resolve Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe. Milton.
3. To give new assurance of the truth of; to render certain; to verify; to corroborate; as, to confirm a rumor .
Your eyes shall witness and confirm my tale. Pope.
These likelihoods confirm her flight. Shak.
4. To render valid by formal assent; to complete by a necessary sanction; to ratify; as, to confirm the appoinment of an official; the Senate confirms a treaty.
That treaty so prejudicial ought to have been remitted rather than confimed . Swift.
5. (Eccl.) To administer the rite of confirmation to. See Confirmation , 3.
Those which are thus confirmed are thereby supposed to be fit for admission to the sacrament. Hammond.
Syn. -- To strengthen; corroborate; substantiate; establish; fix; ratify; settle; verify; assure.
Confirmable <Xpage=300>