Middle English Dictionary Entry
confiteōr n.
Entry Info
| Forms | confiteōr n. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A prayer beginning with the words 'confiteor domino meo' (I confess to Almighty God, etc.), said (a) by the priest as part of Mass, or (b) by any person making a general confession of sins or sinfulness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)5a : Alswa ȝe schule don, hwen þe preost halt hit up ed te measse ant biuore þe confiteor, hwen ȝe schule beon ihuslet.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.386 : Men may also refreyne venial synne..by general confession of Confiteor at masse.
- c1390 Treat.Mass (Vrn)184 : Whon þat þe prest..seiþ his Confiteore, ffeire he louteþ þe Auter bi-fore, To schriue him of his synnes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28582 : Sinnes..On seuen maners ar þai for-giuen..Thoru þe confiteor þat es Wont to be said at þe messe.
- c1450 LFMass Bk.(Nwnh 900.4)15/61 : Whanne confiteor thus is done, Pater-noster folweth sone.
b
- a1425 LFMass Bk.(Cmb Gg.5.31)35 : When þe prest..mekes hym to god for hys synnes, Say wit him þi confiteor, Or ellys in Inglysch.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)81/2 : Þan þe person..bad sche xulde come to hym..& sey hir Confiteor, & he xulde howseln hys owyn self, for he cowde not vndyrstond non Englysch.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)167 : Thenne he [Hen.VI at his coronation]..layde hym downe prostrate, sayng there hys Confyteor, and alle the prelatys sayde Misereator.