Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Latin
Origin: professus, past participle of profiteri 'to profess, confess'

profess

 verb
     
pro‧fess [transitive] formal
1 to say that you do, are etc something, especially when it is not really true
profess to do/be something
The government professes to care about the poor.
He professed to be an expert on Islamic art.
2

profess your innocence

to say that you did not do something bad, especially a crime:
In court, the man was still professing his innocence.
3 to 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.
4RR to have a religion or belief:
Matt professed no religion.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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