What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Confess vs Beknow - What's the difference?

confess | beknow |

As verbs the difference between confess and beknow

is that confess is (senseid) to admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed while beknow is to know about; have knowledge of; recognise; understand; be aware (of); be knowledgeable about.

confess

English

Verb

(es)
  • (senseid) To admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed.
    • People confess to anything under torture.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I never gave it him. Send for him hither, / And let him confess a truth.
  • * Milton
    • And there confess / Humbly our faults, and pardon beg.
  • * Addison
    • I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none of them have mentioned.
  • To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.
  • * Bible, Matthew x. 32
    • Whosoever, therefore, shall confess' me before men, him will I ' confess , also, before my Father which is in heaven.
  • * Bible, Acts xxiii. 8
    • For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
  • (religion) To unburden (oneself) of sins to a priest, in order to receive absolution.
  • * Addison
    • Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father.
  • (religion) To hear or receive such a confession of sins from.
  • * Ld. Berners
    • He heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most part of his company were confessed .
  • (senseid) To disclose or reveal.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mould.

    Related terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l)

    Derived terms

    * (l), (l)

    See also

    * own up * come clean

    beknow

    English

    Verb

  • To know about; have knowledge of; recognise; understand; be aware (of); be knowledgeable about.
  • *1856 , Homer, Francis William Newman, The Illiad of Homer :
    • At length Alkimedon, his friend and comrade, right beknew it; [...]
  • *1859 , United States Congress, Congressional edition - Page 354 :
    • Do not think my reverend father that I am beknowing to all the affairs of the savages, there is a great deal wanting: they come to us about the affairs of their conscience, but as to the rest they consult us but little.
  • *1888 , The Argosy: Volume 46:
    • [...] when I went bolt into his dressing-room, not beknowing he was in it — why it is not likely, sir, that he comes again.
  • *1922 , Walter De la Mare, Down-adown-derry: a book of fairy poems :
    • Know I as soon as dark's dreams begin Snared is my heart in a nightmare's gin; Never from terror I out may win; So dawn and dusk I pine, peak, thin, Scarcely beknowing t'other from which—My great grandam—She was a Witch.
  • To acknowledge; own; confess.
  • *1831 , Sir Thomas Wyatt, Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, The poetical works of Sir Thomas Wyatt :
    • For unto Thee no number can be laid For to prescribe remissions of offence In hearts returned, as thou thyself hast said; And I beknow my fault, my negligence: [...]

    Derived terms

    * *