different between confessive vs confessional

English

Etymology

From confess +? -ive.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?s?v

Adjective

confessive (comparative more confessive, superlative most confessive)

1. (rare) Confessing; constituting a confession or admission.
   • 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society 2010, p. 197:

     ‘No, no. No sugar, thank you,’ said Smiley with a confessive grin.

English

Etymology 1

confession +? -al

Adjective

confessional (comparative more confessional, superlative most confessional)

1. In the manner or style of a confession.
   • 1991, Manju Jain, A critical reading of the selected poems of T.S. Eliot (page 77)

     The studied reticence of the poems in quatrains is opposed to the more confessional aspects of the monologue.

2. Officially practicing a particular religion, as a state or organization. See confessionalism 1.

Etymology 2

From French confessionnal.

Noun

confessional (plural confessionals)

1. (Roman Catholic church) A small room where confession—the sacrament of reconciliation—is performed by a priest.

   Synonym: confession booth

   • ca. 1909, Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth, Letter XI:

     The confessional's chief amusement has been seduction–in all the ages of the Church.
2. A confession.
3. (reality television) A filmed interview in which a cast member speaks directly into the camera commenting on the events of the episode.

Related terms

• interconfessional

Translations