Chapter 67

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.

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.

Con*fess"ant (?), n. [F. confessant.] One who confesses to a priest. [Obs.] Bacon.

Con*fess"a*ry (?), n. [LL. confessarius.] One who makes a confession. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Con*fess"ed*ly (?), adv. By confession; without denial. [Written also confessly.]

Con*fess"er (?), n. One who makes a 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.

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.

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.

Con*fes"sion*al, a. Pertaining to a confession of faith.

Confessional equality, equality before the law of persons confessing different creeds.

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.

Con*fes"sion*al*ist, n. A priest hearing, or sitting to hear, confession. [R.] Boucher

Con*fes"sion*a*ry (?), n. [LL. confessionarium.] A confessional. [Obs.] Johnson.

Con*fes"sion*a*ry, a. Pertaining to auricular confession; as, a confessionary litany.

Con*fes"sion*ist, n. [Cf. F. confessioniste.] One professing a certain faith. Bp. Montagu.

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.

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.

Con*fest"ly (?), adv. See Cofessedly.

{ 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.

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.

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.

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 circumstances; 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 prosperous. Jer. Taylor.

Con"fi*dent, n. See Confidant. South. Dryden.

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.

Con`fi*den"tial*ly (?), adv. In confidence; in reliance on secrecy.

Con"fi*dent*ly (?), adv. With confidence; with strong assurance; positively.

Con"fi*dent*ness, n. The quality of being confident.

Con*fid"er (?), n. One who confides.

Con*fid"ing, a. That confides; trustful; unsuspicious. -- Con*fid"ing*ly, adv. -- Con*fid"ing*ness, n.

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.

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.

3. (Chem.) the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule as determined by the covalent bonds between them; the three-dimensional structure that cannot be changed without breaking the covalent bonds between atoms of a molecule. It is distinguished from conformation, which is the exact relative location in space of all of the atoms of a molecule, which may vary at different times or in different environments. [PJC]

4. (Computers) a specification of the parts of a computer system, consisting of the essential components of the computer plus the complete set of all internal and external devices directly attached to it; as, by the year 2000, a microcomputer configuration without a CD-ROM or DVD drive will be unsalable. [PJC]

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.

Con*fin"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being confined, restricted, or limited.

Not confinable to any limits. Bp. Hall.

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.

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 gloomy bounds Confine with heaven. Milton.

Bewixt heaven and earth and skies there stands a place. Confining on all three. Dryden.

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 empyrean 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.

Con"fine`less (? or ?), a. Without limitation or end; boundless. Shak.

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.

Con*fin"er (?), n. One who, or that which, limits or restrains.

Con"fi`ner (? or &?;), 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.

Con*fin"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. confinitÚ.] Community of limits; contiguity. [R.] Bailey.

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.

And 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.

Con*firm"a*ble (?), a. That may be confirmed.

Con*firm"ance (?), n. Confirmation. [Obs.]

Con`fir*ma"tion (?), n. [F. confirmation, L. confirmatio.] 1. The act of confirming or strengthening; the act of establishing, ratifying, or sanctioning; as, the confirmation of an appointment.

Their blood is shed In confirmation of the noblest claim. Cowper.

2. That which confirms; that which gives new strength or assurance; as to a statement or belief; additional evidence; proof; convincing testimony.

Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. Shak.

3. (Eccl.) A rite supplemental to baptism, by which a person is admitted, through the laying on of the hands of a bishop, to the full privileges of the church, as in the Roman Catholic, the Episcopal Church, etc.

This ordinance is called confirmation, because they who duly receive it are confirmed or strengthened for the fulfillment of their Christian duties, by the grace therein bestowed upon them. Hook.

4. (Law) A conveyance by which a voidable estate is made sure and not voidable, or by which a particular estate is increased; a contract, express or implied, by which a person makes that firm and binding which was before voidable.

Con*firm"a*tive (?), a. [L. confirmativus: cf. F. confirmatif.] Tending to confirm or establish. Sherwood.

-- Con*firm"a*tive*ly, adv.

Con"fir*ma`tor (?), n. [L.] One who, or that which, confirms; a confirmer. Sir T. Browne.

Con*firm"a*to*ry (?), a. . Serving to confirm; corroborative.

A fact confirmatory of the conclusion. I. Taylor.

2. Pertaining to the rite of confirmation. Compton.

Con*firm"ed*ly (?), adv. With confirmation.

Con*firm"ed*ness, n. A fixed state.

Con`fir*mee" (?), n. [F. confirmÚ, p. p. of confirmer.] (Law) One to whom anything is confirmed.

Con*firm"er (?), n. One who, or that which, confirms, establishes, or ratifies; one who corroborates. Shak.

Con*firm"ing*ly, adv. In a confirming manner.

Con*fis"ca*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. confiscable.] Capable of being confiscated; liable to forfeiture.

Con"fis*cate (? or &?;), a. [L. confiscatus, p. p. of confiscare to confiscate, prop., to lay up in a chest; con- + fiscus basket, purse, treasury. See Fiscal.] Seized and appropriated by the government to the public use; forfeited.

Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate. Shak.

Con"fis*cate (? or &?;; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confiscated; p. pr. & vb. n. Confiscating.] To seize as forfeited to the public treasury; to appropriate to the public use.

It was judged that he should be banished and his whole estate confiscated and seized. Bacon.

Con`fis*ca"tion (?), n. [L. confiscatio.] The act or process of taking property or condemning it to be taken, as forfeited to the public use.

The confiscations following a subdued rebellion. Hallam.

Con"fis*ca`tor (?), n. [L., a treasurer.] One who confiscates. Burke.

Con*fis"ca*to*ry (?), a. Effecting confiscation; characterized by confiscations. "Confiscatory and exterminatory periods." Burke.

Con"fit (?), n. Same as Comfit. [Obs.]

Con"fi*tent (?), n. [L. confitens, p. pr.] One who confesses his sins and faults. [Obs.]

||Con*fit"e*or (?), n. [L., I confess. See Confess.] (R.C.Ch.) A form of prayer in which public confession of sins is made.

Con"fi*ture (?; 135), n. [F. See Confiture.] Composition; preparation, as of a drug, or confection; a sweetmeat. [Obs.] "Confitures and pies." Bacon.

Con*fix" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confixed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Confixing.] [L. confixus, p. p. of configere to fasten together.] To fix; to fasten. [Obs.] Shak.

Con*fix"ure (?; 135), n. Act of fastening. [Obs.]

Con*fla"grant (?), a. [L. conflagrans, p. pr. of conflagrare; con- + flagrare to blaze. See Flagrant.] Burning together in a common flame. [R.] "The conflagrant mass." Milton.

Con`fla*gra"tion (?), n. [L. conflagratio: cf. F. conflagration.] A fire extending to many objects, or over a large space; a general burning.

Till one wide conflagration swallows all. Pope.

Con*flate" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conflated; p. pr. & vb. n. Conflating.] [L. conflatus, p. p. of conflare to blow together; con- + flare to blow.] To blow together; to bring together; to collect; to fuse together; to join or weld; to consolidate.

The State-General, created and conflated by the passionate effort of the whole nation. Carlyle.

Con*fla"tion (?), n. [L. conflatio.] A blowing together, as of many instruments in a concert, or of many fires in a foundry. [R.] Bacon.

Con"flict (?), n. [L. conflictus a striking together, fr. confligere, -flictum, to strike together, to fight: cf. F. conflit, formerly also conflict. See Conflict, v.] 1. A striking or dashing together; violent collision; as, a conflict of elements or waves.

2. A strife for the mastery; hostile contest; battle; struggle; fighting.

As soon as he [Atterbury] was himself again, he became eager for action and conflict. Macaulay.

An irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces. W. H. Seward.

Conflict of laws, that branch of jurisprudence which deals with individual litigation claimed to be subject to the conflicting laws of two or more states or nations; -- often used as synonymous with Private international law.

Syn. -- Contest; collision; struggle; combat; strife; contention; battle; fight; encounter. See Contest.

Con*flict" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conflicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Conflicting.] [L. conflictus, p. p. of confligere to conflict (cf. conflictare); con- + fligere to strike; cf. Gr. fli`bein, qli`bein, to press, L. flagrum whip.] 1. To strike or dash together; to meet in violent collision; to collide. Shak.

Fire and water conflicting together. Bacon.

2. To maintain a conflict; to contend; to engage in strife or opposition; to struggle.

A man would be content to . . . conflict with great difficulties, in hopes of a mighty reward. Abp. Tillotson.

3. To be in opposition; to be contradictory.

The laws of the United States and of the individual States may, in some cases, conflict with each other. Wheaton.

Syn. -- To fight; contend; contest; resist; struggle; combat; strive; battle.

Con*flict"ing, a. Being in conflict or collision, or in opposition; contending; contradictory; incompatible; contrary; opposing.

Torn with sundry conflicting passions. Bp. Hurd.

Con*flict"ive (?), a. Tending to conflict; conflicting. Sir W. Hamilton.

Con"flu*ence (?), n. [L. confluentia.] 1. The act of flowing together; the meeting or junction of two or more streams; the place of meeting.

New York stood at the confluence of two rivers. Bancroft.

2. Any running together of separate streams or currents; the act of meeting and crowding in a place; hence, a crowd; a concourse; an assemblage.

You see this confluence, this great flood of vistors. Shak.

The confluence . . . of all true joys. Boyle.

Con"flu*ent (?), a. [L. confluens, -entis, p. pr. of confluere, - fluxum; con- + fluere to flow. See Fluent.] 1. Flowing together; meeting in their course; running one into another.

These confluent steams make some great river's head. Blackmore.

2. (Bot.) Blended into one; growing together, so as to obliterate all distinction.

3. (Med.) (a) Running together or uniting, as pimples or pustules. (b) Characterized by having the pustules, etc., run together or unite, so as to cover the surface; as, confluent smallpox. Dunglison.

Con"flu*ent, n. 1. A small steam which flows into a large one.

2. The place of meeting of steams, currents, etc. [Obs.] Holland.

Con"flux (?), n. [From L. confluxus, p. p. See Confluent.] 1. A flowing together; a meeting of currents. "The conflux of meeting sap." Shak.

The general conflux and concourse of the whole people. Clarendon.

2. A large assemblage; a passing multitude.

To the gates cast round thine eye, and see What conflux issuing forth, or entering in. Milton.

Con*flux`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. The tendency of fluids to run together. [R.] Boyle.

Con*flux"i*ble (?), a. Inclined to flow or run together. -- Con*flux"i*ble*ness, n.

Con*fo"cal (?), a. (Math.) Having the same foci; as, confocal quadrics.

Con*form" (?), a. [L. conformis; con- + forma form: cf. F. conforme.] Of the same form; similar in import; conformable. Bacon.

Care must be taken that the interpretation be every way conform to the analogy of faith. Bp.Hall.

Con*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conformed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Conforming.] [F. conformer, L. conformare, -formatum; con- + formare to form, forma form. See Form.] To shape in accordance with; to make like; to bring into harmony or agreement with; -- usually with to or unto.

Demand of them wherefore they conform not themselves unto the order of the church. Hooker.

Con*form", v. i. 1. To be in accord or harmony; to comply; to be obedient; to submit; -- with to or with.

A rule to which experience must conform. Whewell.

2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) To comply with the usages of the Established Church; to be a conformist.

About two thousand ministers whose consciences did not suffer them to conform were driven from their benefices in a day. Macaulay.

Con*form`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. 1. The state of being conformable.

2. (Geol.) The parallelism of two sets of strata which are in contact.

Con*form"a*ble (?), a. 1. Corresponding in form, character, opinions, etc.; similar; like; consistent; proper or suitable; -- usually followed by to.

The fragments of Sappho give us a taste of her way of writing perfectly conformable with that character. Addison.

Conformable to Scripture as well as to philosophy. Whewell.

To make matters somewhat conformable for the old knight. Sir W. Scott.

2. Disposed to compliance or obedience; ready to follow directions; submissive; compliant.