profess

practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about; "She professes organic chemistry"

confess one's faith in, or allegiance to; "The terrorists professed allegiance to their country"; "he professes to be a Communist"

admit (to a wrongdoing); "She confessed that she had taken the money"

state freely; "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; "she professed herself as a nun"

state insincerely; "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"