v.
Pronunciation: pr ə - ' fes, pr ō -
Function: verb
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English, from profes, adjective, having professed one's vows, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin professus, from Latin, past participle of profit ē ri to profess, confess, from pro- before + fat ē ri to acknowledge; in other senses, from Latin professus, past participle ― more at CONFESS
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 : to receive formally into a religious community following a novitiate by acceptance of the required vows
2 a : to declare or admit openly or freely : AFFIRM b : to declare in words or appearances only : PRETEND , CLAIM
3 : to confess one's faith in or allegiance to
4 a : to practice or claim to be versed in (a calling or profession) b : to teach as a professor
intransitive verb
1 : to make a profession or avowal
2 obsolete : to profess friendship