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confessional

Translate confessional | into Italian
Definition of confessional

noun

  • 1an enclosed stall in a church divided by a screen or curtain in which a priest sits to hear confessions: the secrets of the confessional
  • 2an acknowledgement that one has done something shameful or embarrassing; a confession: tabloid confessionals

adjective

  • 1(of speech or writing) in which a person reveals private thoughts or admits to past incidents, especially ones about which they feel ashamed or embarrassed:the autobiography is remarkably confessional his confessional outpourings
  • relating to religious confession:the priest leaned forward in his best confessional manner
  • 2relating to confessions of faith or doctrinal systems:the confessional approach to religious education

Derivatives

confessionally

adverb

Origin:

late Middle English (as an adjective): the adjective from confession + -al; the noun via French from Italian confessionale, from medieval Latin, neuter of confessionalis, from Latin confessio(n-), from confiteri 'acknowledge' (see confess)

confessional in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of confessional in the US English dictionary
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