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)