profess, v. t. [F. profès, masc., professe, fem., professed (monk or nun), L. professus, p. p. of profiteri to profess; pro before, forward + fateri to confess, own. See Confess.].

To make open declaration of, as of one's knowledge, belief, action, etc.; to avow or acknowledge; to confess publicly; to own or admit freely. Shak. [1913 Webster]
"The best and wisest of them all professed
To know this only, that he nothing knew." [1913 Webster]
To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put on or present an appearance of. [1913 Webster]
"I do profess to be no less than I seem." [1913 Webster]
To present to knowledge of, to proclaim one's self versed in; to make one's self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such); as, he professes surgery; to profess one's self a physician. [1913 Webster]

profess, v. i.

To take a profession upon one's self by a public declaration; to confess. Drayton. [1913 Webster]
To declare friendship. Shak. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

profess, v.
1 tr. claim openly to have (a quality or feeling).
2 tr. (foll. by to + infin.) pretend.
3 tr. declare (profess ignorance).
4 tr. affirm one's faith in or allegiance to.
5 tr. receive into a religious order under vows.
6 tr. have as one's profession or business.
7 a tr. teach (a subject) as a professor. b intr. perform the duties of a professor.

Etymology

ME f. L profiteri profess- declare publicly (as PRO-(1), fateri confess)

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THESAURUS

profess

act, act a part, affect, affirm, allege, announce, annunciate, argue, assert, assever, asseverate, assume, aver, avouch, avow, bluff, claim, confess, confirm, contend, counterfeit, cover up, declare, depose, dissemble, dissimulate, enunciate, express, express the belief, fake, feign, four-flush, gammon, have, hold, insist, issue a manifesto, lay down, let on, let on like, maintain, make a pretense, make as if, make believe, make like, manifesto, offer, play, play a part, play possum, playact, predicate, present, pretend, pretext, proclaim, proffer, pronounce, protest, protest too much, purport, put, put forward, put it, put on, say, set down, set forth, sham, simulate, speak, speak out, speak up, stand for, stand on, state, submit, swear, tender, utter, vow, warrant

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ROGET THESAURUS

profess

Affirmation

VB assert, make an assertion, have one's say, say, affirm, predicate, declare, state, protest, profess, put forth, put forward, advance, allege, propose, propound, enunciate, broach, set forth, hold out, maintain, contend, pronounce, pretend, depose, depone, aver, avow, avouch, asseverate, swear, make oath, take one's oath, make an affidavit, swear an affidavit, put in an affidavit, take one's Bible oath, kiss the book, vow, vitam impendere vero, swear till one is black in the face, swear till one is blue in the face, swear till all's blue, be sworn, call Heaven to witness, vouch, warrant, certify, assure, swear by bell book and candle, swear by, insist upon, take one's stand upon, emphasize, lay stress on, assert roundly, assert positively, lay down, lay down the law, raise one's voice, dogmatize, have the last word, rap out, repeat, reassert, reaffirm, announce, acknowledge, attest, adjure.

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