different between confess vs amends

English

Etymology

From Middle English confessen, from Anglo-Norman confesser, from Old French confesser, from Medieval Latin confess? (“I confess”), a derivative of Latin confessus (Old French confés), past participle of c?nfiteor (“I confess, I admit”) from con- + fateor (“I admit”). Displaced Middle English andetten (“to confess, admit”) (from Old English andettan).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?f?s/
• Rhymes: -?s

Verb

confess (third-person singular simple present confesses, present participle confessing, simple past and past participle confessed)

2. To admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed.

   I confess to spray-painting all over that mural!

   I confess that I am a sinner.

   • I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none of them have mentioned.

3. To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.

   • 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.

4. (religion) To unburden (oneself) of sins to God or a priest, in order to receive absolution.

   • Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father.

5. (religion) To hear or receive such a confession of sins from.
   • 1523–1525, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners (translator), Froissart's Chronicles

     He […] heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most part of his company were confessed.

7. To disclose or reveal.

Derived terms

• fess, fess up

Related terms

• confession
• confessional
• confessor

Translations

See also

• own up
• come clean

English

Etymology

From French amendes, plural of amende. Compare with amende.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??m?nds/

Noun

amends

1. plural of amend

Noun

amends

1. Compensation for a loss or injury; recompense; reparation.

Usage notes

• Many consider amends a plural-only noun, but historically and in some current usage the singular appears.
• Most commonly found in to make amends.

Synonyms

• (compensation): reparation, redress, restitution, indemnity

Translations

Verb

amends

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of amend

References

• amends at OneLook Dictionary Search
• amends in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Amsden, Edmans, demans, desman, menads