profess

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   state insincerely

   They professed innocence but later admitted their guilt.

2. 2
   verb

   confess one's faith in, or allegiance to

   The terrorists professed allegiance to their country

3. 3
   verb

   practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about

   They profess organic chemistry.

4. 4
   verb

   take vows, as in religious order

   I professed myself as a nun.

5. 5
   verb

   state freely

   I professed to my students that I am not generous when it comes to giving good grades.

6. 6
   verb

   To administer the vows of a religious order to (someone); to admit to a religious order.

   This swayed the balance decisively in Mary's favour, and she was professed on 8 September 1578.

7. 7
   verb

   To declare oneself (to be something).

   Kiefer professes himself amused by the fuss that ensued when he announced that he was buying the Mülheim-Kärlich reactor[…].

8. 8
   verb

   To declare; to assert, affirm.

   He professes to haue receiued no sinister measure from his Iudge, but most willingly humbles himselfe to the determination of Iustice[…].

Etymology

From Old French professer, and its source, the participle stem of Latin profitērī, from pro- + fatērī (“to confess, acknowledge”).