From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishprofesspro‧fess /prəˈfes/ verb [transitive] formal 1 SAY/STATEto say that you do, are etc something, especially when it is not really trueprofess to do/be something The government professes to care about the poor. He professed to be an expert on Islamic art.2 → profess your innocence3 OPINIONto state a personal feeling or belief openly He finally made up his mind to profess his love for her.profess yourself (to be) something He professed himself satisfied with the results.4 RRRELIGIONto have a religion or belief Matt professed no religion.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
profess• She was not then perpetually professed.• In Mexico, ninety percent of the people profess Catholicism.• While Norm professed dismay with his thievery, he always kept what Benjy brought him.• Speaking softly, Prucell professed her dislike of giving interviews.• Lewis professed his innocence.• For months, Derek had wanted to profess his love for Beth.• Often she will be able to sleep with rising superstars and juvenile celebrities who will profess love but never contemplate marrying her.• It professes no particular architectural creed; it belongs to no recognisable school of design.• He professed to be mates with all the Revie team now as then.• She professed to have been a cook in a house where I was once governess.• What they did not profess to understand was how it could be terminated.profess to do/be something• The writer professed to be church-going, happily married, to have a large house and be infatuated with young children.• No matter that the campaign is over, and that they also profess to be determined to balance the budget.• He professed to be mates with all the Revie team now as then.• Men did though, even men who professed to be shy.• But the Republican professed to be unconcerned by surveys.• Whether in denial or putting on a brave face, the delegates professed to be unperturbed by those numbers.• Dunlop professed to be well satisfied with the outcome but the dispute had probably left his business irretrievably damaged.profess yourself (to be) something• In the developed world, most nations professed themselves deeply concerned about low fertility rates.Origin profess (1400-1500) Latin professus, past participle of profiteri “to profess, confess” 