v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Professed p. pr. & vb. n. Professing. ] [ F. profès, 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 ]

v. i. 1. To take a profession upon one's self by a public declaration; to confess. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To declare friendship. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Openly declared, avowed, acknowledged, or claimed; as, a professed foe; a professed tyrant; a professed Christian. [ 1913 Webster ]

The professed (R. C. Ch.) , a certain class among the Jesuits bound by a special vow. See the note under Jesuit. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By profession. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. professio. See Profess, v. ] 1. The act of professing or claiming; open declaration; public avowal or acknowledgment; as, professions of friendship; a profession of faith. [ 1913 Webster ]

A solemn vow, promise, and profession. Bk. of Com. Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which one professed; a declaration; an avowal; a claim; as, his professions are insincere. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Indians quickly perceive the coincidence or the contradiction between professions and conduct. J. Morse. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That of which one professed knowledge; the occupation, if not mechanical, agricultural, or the like, to which one devotes one's self; the business which one professes to understand, and to follow for subsistence; calling; vocation; employment; as, the profession of arms; the profession of a clergyman, lawyer, or physician; the profession of lecturer on chemistry. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hi tried five or six professions in turn. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The three professions, or learned professions, are, especially, theology, law, and medicine. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The collective body of persons engaged in a calling; as, the profession distrust him. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Eccl. Law.) The act of entering, or becoming a member of, a religious order. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to a profession, or calling; conforming to the rules or standards of a profession; following a profession; as, professional knowledge; professional conduct. “Pride, not personal, but professional.” Macaulay. “A professional sneerer.” De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Engaged in by professionals; as, a professional race; -- opposed to amateur. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person who prosecutes anything professionally, or for a livelihood, and not in the character of an amateur; a professional worker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The following of a profession, sport, etc., as an occupation; -- opposed to amateurism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. professional person. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a professional manner or capacity; by profession or calling; in the exercise of one's profession; one employed professionally. [ 1913 Webster ]