WordWeb Online

1. An open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion
   "a professing of disagreement";
   - profession

1. State insincerely
   "He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt";
   - pretend
    
2. State freely
   "The teacher professed that he was not generous when it came to giving good grades"
    
3. Practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about
   "She professes organic chemistry"
    
4. Confess one's faith in, or allegiance to
   "The terrorists professed allegiance to their country"; "he professes to be a Communist"
    
5. Admit (to a wrongdoing)
   "She professed that she had taken the money";
   - concede, confess
    
6. Receive into a religious order or congregation
    
7. Take vows, as in religious order
   "she professed herself as a nun"

Type of: accept, acknowledge, admit, affirmation, avouchment, avowal, claim, declare, pronounce, take, take on, vow