profess

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /prəˈfɛs/ UK /pɹəˈfɛs/ See IPA manual

Freq #28253

Meanings

1

verb
To claim or declare something openly, sometimes without it being true.

He professed to be an expert, though he had never studied the subject.
2

verb
To state a belief, feeling, or loyalty clearly and openly.

She professed her love for him in front of everyone.
3

verb
To pretend to feel something you do not really feel.

They professed innocence but later admitted their guilt.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 verb · to pretend to feel... pretend

Word family

Forms professedprofessedlyprofessesprofessing

Derived forms disprofessmisprofessprofessableunprofessing

Related forms profession professor

Etymology

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

*bʰeh₂- Proto-Indo-European professer Old French profitērī Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# profess

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /prəˈfɛs/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹəˈfɛs/
**Frequency rank:** 28253

## Meanings
1. To claim or declare something openly, sometimes without it being true.
2. To state a belief, feeling, or loyalty clearly and openly.
3. To pretend to feel something you do not really feel.

## Examples
- He professed to be an expert, though he had never studied the subject.
- She professed her love for him in front of everyone.
- They professed innocence but later admitted their guilt.

## Derived Forms
- disprofess
- misprofess
- professable
- unprofessing

## Related Forms
- profession
- professor

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰeh₂-
- Root: professer
- Root: profitērī

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

## AI Etymology
Profess is from Old French professer, and its source, the participle stem of Latin profitērī, from pro- + fatērī (“to confess, acknowledge”). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean to claim or declare something openly, sometimes without it being true, or to state a belief, feeling, or loyalty clearly and openly. Related forms include profession, professor. Derived formations include disprofess, misprofess, professable, unprofessing.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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