The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Professed \Pro*fessed"\, a.
   Openly declared, avowed, acknowledged, or claimed; as, a
   professed foe; a professed tyrant; a professed Christian.
   [1913 Webster]

   The professed (R. C. Ch.), a certain class among the
      Jesuits bound by a special vow. See the note under
      Jesuit.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Profess \Pro*fess"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Professed; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Professing.] [F. prof[`e]s, masc., professe, fem.,
   professed (monk or nun), L. professus, p. p. of profiteri to
   profess; pro before, forward + fateri to confess, own. See
   Confess.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To make open declaration of, as of one's knowledge,
      belief, action, etc.; to avow or acknowledge; to confess
      publicly; to own or admit freely. "Hear me profess
      sincerely." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            The best and wisest of them all professed
            To know this only, that he nothing knew. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put
      on or present an appearance of.
      [1913 Webster]

            I do profess to be no less than I seem. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

professed
    adj 1: professing to be qualified; "a professed philosopher"
    2: claimed with intent to deceive; "his professed intentions"
    3: openly declared as such; "an avowed enemy"; "her professed
       love of everything about that country"; "McKinley was
       assassinated by a professed anarchist" [syn: avowed(a),
       professed(a)]