Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Profess \Pro*fess"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Professed}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Professing}.] [F. prof[`e]s, masc., professe, fem.,
   professed (monk or nun), L. professus, p. p. of profiteri to
   profess; pro before, forward + fateri to confess, own. See
   {Confess}.]
   1. 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. ``Hear me profess
      sincerely.'' --Shak.

            The best and wisest of them all professed To know
            this only, that he nothing knew.      --Milton.

Profess \Pro*fess"\, v. i.
   1. To take a profession upon one's self by a public
      declaration; to confess. --Drayton.

   2. To declare friendship. [Obs.] --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

profess
     v 1: practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be
          knowledgeable about; "She professes organic chemistry"
     2: confess one's faith in, or allegiance to; "The terrorists
        professed allegiance to the Muslim faith"; "he professes
        to be a Communist"
     3: admit, make a clean breast of; "She confessed that she had
        taken the money" [syn: {concede}, {confess}]
     4: state freely; "The teacher professed that he was not
        generous when it came to giving good grades"
     5: receive into a religious order or congregation
     6: take vows, as in religious order; "she professed herself as
        a nun"
     7: state insincerely; "He professed innocence but later
        admitted his guilt"; "She pretended not to have known the
        suicide bomber"; "She pretends to be an expert on wine"
        [syn: {pretend}]