Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Profess
Pro-fess′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Professed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Professing
.] [F.
profès
, 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
To know this only, that he nothing knew.
professed
To know this only, that he nothing knew.
Milton.
2.
To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put on or present an appearance of.
I do
profess
to be no less than I seem. Shakespeare
3.
To present to knowledge of, to proclaim one's self versed in; to make one's self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such);
as, he
professes
surgery; to profess
one's self a physician.Pro-fess′
(prō̍-fĕs′)
, Verb.
I.
1.
To take a profession upon one's self by a public declaration; to confess.
Drayton.
2.
To declare friendship.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Profess
PROFESS'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To make open declaration of; to avow or acknowledge. Let no man who professes himself a christian, keep so heathenish a family as not to see God by daily worshipped in it.
They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him. Tit.1.
2.
To declare in strong terms. Then will I profess to them, I never knew you. Matt.7.
3.
To make a show of any sentiments by loud declaration. To your professing bosoms I commit him.
4.
To declare publicly one's skill in any art or science, for inviting employment; as, to profess one's self a physician; he professes surgery.PROFESS'
,Verb.
I.