■ noun
1》 ( N. Amer. also full ~ ) a university academic of the highest rank; the holder of a university chair.
↘ N. Amer. a university teacher.
2》 a person who affirms a faith in or allegiance to something.
Derivatives
~ate noun
~ial adjective
~ially adverb
~iate noun
~ship noun
Origin
ME: from L. ~ , from profess- , profiteri (see profess ).