Confiteor

[ kuhn-fit-ee-awr ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

a prayer in the form of a general confession said at the beginning of the Mass and on certain other occasions.

Confiteor

/ kənˈfɪtɪˌɔː /

RC Church a prayer consisting of a general confession of sinfulness and an entreaty for forgiveness

1150–1200; Middle English; after first word of Latin prayer: I confess

C13: from Latin: I confess; from the beginning of the Latin prayer of confession

Then Cardinal Gregory came forward, and all knelt and beat their breasts, repeating the Confiteor.

The sacristan placed the temporary altar beside the foot of the bed, arrayed it, and recited the Confiteor.

He said a Confiteor tibi Domine, rolling the words on his tongue as if in anticipation of the solider mouthfuls awaiting him.

Ulenspiegel did so, ever repeating: “Mea culpa, confiteor, take away my hump.”

Scarcely has he stretched out his arms at the gospel, before he is striking his breast at the Confiteor.

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