Word Study
confessional
CIDE DICTIONARY
confessional, n. [F. confessional.].
The recess, seat, or inclosed place, where a priest sits to hear confessions; often a small structure furnished with a seat for the priest and with a window or aperture so that the penitent who is outside may whisper into the priest's ear without being seen by him or heard by others. [1913 Webster]
confessional, a.
Pertaining to a confession of faith. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
confessional, n. & adj.
--n. an enclosed stall in a church in which a priest hears confessions.
--adj.
1 of or relating to confession.
2 denominational.
--n. an enclosed stall in a church in which a priest hears confessions.
--adj.
1 of or relating to confession.
2 denominational.
Etymology
F f. It. confessionale f. med.L, neut. of confessionalis (as confession)
THESAURUS
confessional
Easter sepulcher, admissive, ambry, apse, baptistery, blindstory, canonical, chancel, choir, cloisters, confessionary, creedal, crypt, diaconicon, diaconicum, doctrinal, dogmatic, nave, porch, presbytery, rood loft, rood stair, rood tower, sacrarium, sacristy, transept, triforium, vestryROGET THESAURUS
confessional
Temple
N temple, place of worship, house of God, house of prayer, temple, cathedral, minster, church, kirk, chapel, meetinghouse, bethel, tabernacle, conventicle, basilica, fane, holy place, chantry, oratory, synagogue, mosque, marabout, pantheon, pagoda, joss house, dogobah, tope, kiosk, kiack, masjid, parsonage, rectory, vicarage, manse, deanery, glebe, Vatican, bishop's palace, Lambeth, altar, shrine, sanctuary, Holy of Holies, sanctum sanctorum, sacristy, sacrarium, communion table, holy table, Lord's table, table of the Lord, pyx, baptistery, font, piscina, stoup, aumbry, sedile, reredos, rood loft, rood screen, chancel, quire, choir, nave, aisle, transept, vestry, crypt, golgotha, calvary, Easter sepulcher, stall, pew, pulpit, ambo, lectern, reading desk, confessional, prothesis, credence, baldachin, baldacchino, apse, belfry, chapter house, presbytery, anxious-bench, anxious-seat, diaconicum, jube, mourner's bench, mourner's seat, cloisters, churchyard, monastery, priory, abbey, friary, convent, nunnery, cloister, claustral, cloistered, monastic, monasterial, conventual, ne vile fano, there's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.Disclosure
N disclosure, retection, unveiling, deterration, revealment, revelation, exposition, exposure, expose, whole truth, telltale, acknowledgment, avowal, confession, confessional, shrift, bursting of a bubble, denouement, tattletale, snitch, fink, stool pigeon, canary, disclosed, open, public, Int, out with it!, the murder is out, a light breaks in upon one, the scales fall from one's eyes, the eyes are opened.For further exploring for "confessional" in Webster Dictionary Online