profess

transitive verb

1. to make an open declaration of; affirm to profess one's love
2. to claim to have (some feeling, an interest, knowledge, etc.): often connoting insincerity or pretense
3. to practice as one's profession
4. to declare one's belief in to profess Christianity

5. Etymology: ME professen < profes, professed < L professus

   to accept into a religious order

Etymology: < L professus, pp. of profiteri, to avow publicly < pro-, before (see pro-) + fateri, to avow, akin to fari, to speak: see fable

intransitive verb

1. to make profession, or affirmation
2. to make one's profession (sense )