【法】 自认而又持异议

Confession \Con*fes"sion\, n. [F. confession, L. confessio.]
1. Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining
to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or
crime.

With a crafty madness keeps aloof,
When we would bring him on to some confession
Of his true state. --Shak.

2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.

With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
--Rom. x. 10.

3. (Eccl.) The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest
in order to obtain sacramental absolution.

Auricular confession . . . or the private and
special confession of sins to a priest for the
purpose of obtaining his absolution. --Hallam.

4. A formulary in which the articles of faith are comprised;
a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to
admission to membership of a church; a confession of
faith.

5. (Law) An admission by a party to whom an act is imputed,
in relation to such act. A judicial confession settles the
issue to which it applies; an extrajudical confession may
be explained or rebutted. --Wharton.

{Confession and avoidance} (Law), a mode of pleading in which
the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary,
but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal
effect claimed for them. --Mozley & W.

{Confession of faith}, a formulary containing the articles of
faith; a creed.

{General confession}, the confession of sins made by a number
of persons in common, as in public prayer.

{Westminster Confession}. See {Westminster Assembly}, under
{Assembly}.