[prəˈfɛs], (Verb)

Definitions:
- claim that one has (a quality or feeling), especially when this is not the case
(e.g: he had professed his love for her only to walk away)

- affirm one's faith in or allegiance to (a religion or set of beliefs)
(e.g: a people professing Christianity)

- teach (a subject) as a professor
(e.g: a professor—what does he profess?)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English (as be professed ‘be received into a religious order’): from Latin profess- ‘declared publicly’, from the verb profiteri, from pro- ‘before’ + fateri ‘confess’