Confessor

Definitions

1. One who confesses faith in Christianity in the face of persecution, but who is not martyred.
2. One who confesses to having done something wrong.
3. A priest who hears confession and then gives absolution.
4. Someone who acts as listener and helper.
   broadly, figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“Long before Edward I, the English had a King Edward who they considered a martyr and a King Edward who they considered a confessor.”

“Confessors provided the troubled Church with an alternative sort⟳ of authority based on their sufferings, particularly when arguments began about how and how much to forgive⟳ those Christians who had given way to imperial orders – the so-called ‘lapsed’.”

“Near-synonym: confessant”

“They do not feel⟳ connected to any gay/lesbian communities. Nor do they feel⟳ able to establish⟳ relationships with anyone who can support⟳ them. Thus an inexperienced but sincere young heterosexual actor can find⟳ himself playing not only role model⟳ but also confessor and phantom friend to people in great need⟳.”

CEFR level