— professorial /proh'feuh sawr"ee euhl, -sohr"-, prof'euh-/ , adj. — professorialism , n. — professorially , adv.
/preuh fes"euhr/ , n.
1. a teacher of the highest academic rank in a college or university, who has been awarded the title Professor in a particular branch of learning; a full professor: a professor of Spanish literature.
2. any teacher who has the rank of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor.
3. a teacher.
4. an instructor in some art or skilled sport: a professor of singing; a professor of boxing.
5. a person who professes his or her sentiments, beliefs, etc.
[ 1350-1400; ME professor one who has taken the vows of a religious order, L: a public lecturer, equiv. to pro- PRO- 1 + -fet-, comb. form of fateri to acknowledge, declare + -tor -TOR, with tt > ss ]