confiteor

noun

con·​fi·​te·​or kən-ˈfē-tē-ˌȯr 

-ər

: a liturgical form in which sinfulness is acknowledged and intercession for God's mercy requested

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin confiteor domino meo "I confess [my sins] to the Lord," the opening words of the form; confiteor, first person singular present tense of confitērī "to admit (the truth of a statement), confess"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above