Synonyms for confessor
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR CONFESSOR
A confessor was sent for, and he bequeathed his kingdom to his son Henry.
Meanwhile, the confessor had gained the palace of the Duke d' Uzeda.
But for myself and the king's confessor, Philip would consent to thy ruin.
In doing this she felt a peculiar inclination for her confessor.
In his view, God and the church are a sort of concrete centred in the confessor.
About midnight he called to his wife, and told her to send quickly for his confessor.
I suppose a poor girl may receive her confessor in her chamber.
If such is the case, your confessor gives you permission to be seated.
“Pardon; but it is your words I have most interest in,” reminded her confessor.
My confessor, who had been dissatisfied with me before, came to see me.
WORD ORIGIN
late Old English, "one who avows his religion," especially in the face of danger, but does not suffer martyrdom, from Latin confessor, agent noun from confiteri (see confess). Meaning "one who hears confessions" is from mid-14c.; this properly would be Latin confessarius, but Latin confessor was being used in this sense from the 9th century.
Edward the Confessor (c.1003-1066, canonized 1161), last Anglo-Saxon king, was pious enough but does not seem to fit his title; perhaps so called to distinguish him from another Anglo-Saxon saint/king, Edward the Martyr, who does fit his.