confessor

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. One who confesses.
2. n. One who confesses faith in Christianity in the face of persecution but does not suffer martyrdom.
3. n. A priest who hears confession and gives absolution.
4. n. A priest who is one's spiritual mentor.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One who confesses; one who acknowledges a crime, a fault, or an obligation.
2. n. One who makes a profession of his faith in the Christian religion; specifically, one who avows his religion in the face of danger, and adheres to it in spite of persecution and torture. It was formerly used as synonymous with martyr; afterward it was applied to those who, having been persecuted and tormented, were permitted to die in peace; and it was used also for such Christians as lived a good life and died with the reputation of sanctity: as, Edward the Confessor.
3. n. One who hears confessions; specifically, a priest who hears confession and grants absolution; distinctively, as a title of office, a priest employed as a private spiritual director, as of a king or other great personage. Formerly, at European courts, the office of confessor was a very important one. giving its incumbent great privileges and influence, and often great power politically.

Wiktionary

1. n. One who confesses faith in Christianity in the face of persecution, but who is not martyred.
2. n. One who confesses to having done something wrong.
3. n. Roman Catholicism A priest who hears confession and then gives absolution

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. One who confesses; one who acknowledges a fault, or the truth of a charge, at the risk of suffering; specifically, one who confesses himself a follower of Christ and endures persecution for his faith.
2. n. A priest who hears the confessions of others and is authorized to grant them absolution.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. someone who confesses (discloses information damaging to themselves)
2. n. a priest who hears confession and gives absolution