profess-v; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: declare openly and freely; affirm

Commentary: Syntax Includes: NP1[agent] PROFESS NP2 NP1[agent] PROFESS[finite] NP1[agent] PROFESS[nonfinite]
NOTE: Statement is made in a sincere or enthusiastic manner, regardless of whether the speaker's intentions are true or false

Examples:
He professed to be a Communist.
He professed that he was a changed man.
The "love of her life" as she professed him to be in an early season became the bane of her existence.
They had professed him to be their master.
He wasn't so afraid or scripted that he professed not to have an opinion.
He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt.
Amazingly, in the two incidents, both sides professed delight with the outcome.
Socrates, while professing ignorance, refuted claims of others likewise ignorant of the subject.
Arius had deceitfully professed allegiance to the Council of Nicaea.

Mappings:
VerbNet: declare-29.4-1-1-3
FrameNet: Statement
PropBank: profess.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 3, 4, 7

Sense Number 2: take vows, join or allow to join a religious order

Examples:
She professed herself as a nun.
Fr. Radente professed him into the Third Order of St. Dominic on March 25, 1871

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5, 6

Sense Number 3: practice as a profession

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent[human]] PROFESS NP2[topic]

Examples:
She professes organic chemistry.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1