Confess vs Attest - What's the difference?
confess | attest | Synonyms |
(senseid) To admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed.
* Shakespeare
* Milton
* Addison
To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.
* Bible, Matthew x. 32
* Bible, Acts xxiii. 8
(religion) To unburden (oneself) of sins to a priest, in order to receive absolution.
* Addison
(religion) To hear or receive such a confession of sins from.
* Ld. Berners
(senseid) To disclose or reveal.
* Alexander Pope
To affirm to be correct, true, or genuine.
* Addison
* 1599 — Shakespeare, iii 1'' (Act ii in ''First Folio edition)
To certify by signature or oath
To certify in an official capacity.
To supply or be evidence of
*
* 1599 — Shakespeare, Prologue'' (''First Folio edition)
To put under oath.
To call to witness; to invoke.
* Dryden
Confess is a synonym of attest.
As verbs the difference between confess and attest
is that confess is (senseid) to admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed while attest is to affirm to be correct, true, or genuine.confess
English
Verb
(es)- People confess to anything under torture.
- I never gave it him. Send for him hither, / And let him confess a truth.
- And there confess / Humbly our faults, and pardon beg.
- I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none of them have mentioned.
- Whosoever, therefore, shall confess' me before men, him will I ' confess , also, before my Father which is in heaven.
- For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
- Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father.
- He heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most part of his company were confessed .
- Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mould.
Derived terms
* (l), (l)See also
* own up * come cleanattest
English
Verb
(en verb)- When will the appraiser attest the date of the painting?
- facts attested by particular pagan authors
- Dishonour not your Mothers: now attest that those whom you call'd Fathers, did beget you.
- You must attest your will in order for it to be valid.
- Her fine work attested her ability.
- The supplementary bibliography (in Vol. VI) attests to the comprehensiveness of the effort.
- O pardon : since a crooked Figure may / Attest in little place a Million, / And let us, Cyphers to this great Accompt, / On your imaginarie Forces worke.
- The sacred streams which Heaven's imperial state / Attests in oaths, and fears to violate.
