-alis

of, relating to

Forms

-alis
-aris — Latin variant especially used when the stem already contained l, avoiding a repeated l sound.
-al — English ending borrowed through French or directly from Latin.
-ar — English ending continuing Latin -aris.

Origin

An older Latin adjective-forming suffix; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.

Note

Expresses a relationship without specifying its kind: material, place, purpose, and other connections are possible.

41 / 291

adjective / noun

confessional

kun-FESH-uh-nul/kʌnfˈɛʃʌnʌl/

Concerned with revealing private matters or admitting wrongdoing.

The speaker's confessional account reveals private feelings during the intimate recording.

Adult seated at microphone records a personal candid account, hand to heart and vulnerable expression, intimate revealing tone, no words.

Etymology

conLatintogether, with; sometimes thoroughly

+fessLatinadmit, acknowledge, or confess

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

+alLatinof, relating to

The “admit” root underlies an adjective meaning “pertaining to confession.” In the selected sense, that connection emphasizes personal disclosure: revealing private feelings or acknowledging one's own wrongdoing.

In context

Writing America: Pages & People3:55

everyone said, "You can't write this way. It's too personal. It's confessional. You can't write this, Anne." And everyone was discouraging me.

Anne Sexton in Her Own Voice: Confessional Poetry

More examples

He adopts a confessional tone as he admits his mistakes.
The conversation turns confessional when we discuss our childhood secrets.
The priest listens from behind a screen in the confessional.

Forms

confessional · confessionals

confess verb — To admit wrongdoing or reveal something private.

confession noun — An admission of wrongdoing or private feelings.

Similar words

candid: Emphasizes frankness, without necessarily revealing deeply private matters.
intimate: Suggests deeply personal material, without necessarily admitting wrongdoing.