Pro·fess v. t. [imp. & p. p. Professed p. pr. & vb. n. Professing.]
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.”
The best and wisest of them all 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. --Shak.
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.
professing
n : an open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion; "a
profession of disagreement" [syn: profession]