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):

professing
    n 1: an open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion;
         "a profession of disagreement" [syn: profession,
         professing]