Lewis & Short

prŏfessĭo, ōnis, f. [profiteor], a public acknowledgment, declaration, expression, profession, promise (mostly post-Aug.).

  1. I. In gen.: professio bonae voluntatis, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 8, 2: Canidius timidius decessit, quam professioni ejus congruebat, Vell. 2, 87, 3: memores professionis, of our promise (of brevity), id. 2, 89, 6: aperta, Plin. 27, 3, 2, § 9: suae opinionis, expression, Gell. 7, 3, 24: summa stultitiae, id. 7, 3, 24: flagitii, Tac. A. 2, 85: pietatis, id. Agr. 3.
    1. B. Transf., a sign, token (post-class.): vitiorum, Pall. 3, 9.
  2. II. In partic., a public declaration or specification of one’s person, name, property, business, etc. (class.): IS. APVD. QVEM. EA. PROFESSIO FIET, etc., Tab. Her. in Haubold, Mon. Leg. p. 101 sq.; Liv. 35, 7: tu vero confice professionem, si potes. Etsi haec pecunia ex eo genere est, ut professione non egeat, Cic. Fam. 16, 23, 1: post professionem de fideicommisso factam, Dig. 49, 14, 2; Tert. Apol. 42; Vulg. Act. 5, 37.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. A public register of persons or property thus given in (class.): in Leontino jugerum subscriptio ac professio non est plus triginta millium, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 47, § 113.
      2. 2. A business or profession which one publicly avows (class.): professio bene dicendi, Cic. de Or. 1, 6, 21: grammaticae, Suet. Gram. 8: sapientiae, Plin. 7, 30, 31, § 112: magicae artis, Curt. 7, 4, 8: professionem honestarum artium malis corruperant moribus, id. 8, 5, 7: ista salutaris, the art of healing, medicine, Cels. praef.: ultimae professionis homines, i. e. vilissimi artificii, Lampr. Elag. 20; Dig 2, 13, 9.