Shak.
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.
Pro*fess" (?), v. i. 1. To take a profession upon one's self by a
public declaration; to confess. Drayton.