PROFESS

Practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about

Example: "She professes organic chemistry"

Confess one's faith in, or allegiance to

Example: "The terrorists professed allegiance to their country"

Admit (to a wrongdoing)

Example: "She confessed that she had taken the money"

State freely

Example: "The teacher professed that he was not generous when it came to giving good grades"

Receive into a religious order or congregation

Take vows, as in religious order

Example: "She professed herself as a nun"

State insincerely

Example: "He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt"