From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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}.]
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
The best and wisest of them all professed
To know this only, that he nothing knew. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put
on or present an appearance of.
[1913 Webster]
I do profess to be no less than I seem. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
professing
n 1: an open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion;
"a profession of disagreement" [syn: {profession},
{professing}]
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