profess

(verb) practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about. Example: "She professes organic chemistry."

(verb) confess one's faith in, or allegiance to. Examples: "The terrorists professed allegiance to their country." "He professes to be a communist."

(verb) admit (to a wrongdoing). Synonyms: concede, confess. Example: "She confessed that she had taken the money."

(verb) state freely. Example: "The teacher professed that he was not generous when it came to giving good grades."

(verb) receive into a religious order or congregation.

(verb) take vows, as in religious order. Example: "She professed herself as a nun."

(verb) state insincerely. Synonyms: pretend. Examples: "He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt." "She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber." "She pretends to be an expert on wine."