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professare

to profess, to declare

verb proh-fehs-SAH-reh Rare
Communication Speech

Origin: From Latin profiteri (to declare openly), from pro- + fateri (to confess).

Also means

to practice (a religion or profession)

Usage Note

Professare has two registers: formally declaring a belief or identity (professare la propria fede = to profess one's faith) and, in religious life, professare i voti (to take vows). The reflexive professarsi means to declare oneself something: si professa innocente (he declares himself innocent). It is more elevated than dichiarare and less common in everyday conversation.

Examples

"Si professa innocente davanti al giudice."

Natural Translation

He declares himself innocent before the judge.

Literal Translation

Himself he-declares innocent before the judge

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