Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRO-FESS', v.t. [It. professare; Sp. profesar; Fr. professer, L. professus, profiteor; pro and fateor.]

1. To make open declaration of; to avow or acknowledge. Let no man who professes himself a Christian, keep so heathenish a family as not to see God be daily worshiped in it. – Decay of Piety. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him. – Tit. i.
2. To declare in strong terms. Then will I profess to them, I never knew you. – Matth. vii.
3. To make a show of any sentiments by loud declaration. To your professing bosoms I commit him. – Shak.
4. To declare publicly one's skill in any art or science, for inviting employment; as, to profess one's self a physician; he professes surgery.