Webster's English Dictionary

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profess

pro.fess \pr*-'fes, pro--\ vb [in sense 1, fr. ME professen, fr. profes, 
   adj., having professed o]ne's vows, fr. OF, fr. LL professus, fr. L, pp. of 
   profite-ri- to profess, confess, fr. pro- before + fate-ri- to acknowledge; 
   in other senses, fr. L professus, pp. - more at CONFESS 1a: to receive 
   formally into a religious community following a novitiate b y acceptance of 
   the required vows 1b: to take (vows) as a member of a religious community 
   or order  2a: to declare or admit openly or freely : AFFIRM  2b: to declare 
   in words or appearances only : PRETEND  3: to confess one's faith in or 
   allegiance to : PRACTICE  4: to practice or claim to be versed in (a 
   calling or profession)  1: to make a profession or avowal  obs  2: to 
   profess friendship