Profanely Pro·fane"ly adverb In a profane manner.

The character of God profanely impeached.

Dr. T. Dwight.

Profaneness Pro·fane"ness noun The quality or state of being profane; especially, the use of profane language.

Profaner Pro·fan"er noun One who treats sacred things with irreverence, or defiles what is holy; one who uses profane language. Hooker.

Profanity Pro·fan"i·ty noun [ Latin profanitas .] 1. The quality or state of being profane; profaneness; irreverence; esp., the use of profane language; blasphemy. 2. That which is profane; profane language or acts.

The brisk interchange of profanity and folly.

Buckminster.

Profection Pro·fec"tion noun [ See Proficient .] A setting out; a going forward; advance; progression. [ Obsolete] Sir T. Browne.

Profectitious Pro`fec·ti"tious adjective [ Latin profectitius , from proficisci to set out, proceed.] Proceeding from, as from a parent; derived, as from an ancestor. [ R.]

The threefold distinction of profectitious , adventitious, and professional was ascertained.

Gibbon.

Profert Pro"fert noun [ Latin , he brings forward, 3d pers. pr. of proferre . See Proffer . ] (Law) The exhibition or production of a record or paper in open court, or an allegation that it is in court.

Profess Pro·fess" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Professed ; present participle & verbal noun Professing .] [ French profès , masc., professe , fem., professed (monk or nun), Latin professus , past participle of profiteri to profess; pro before, forward + fateri to confess, own. See Confess .] 1. To make open declaration of, as of one's knowledge, belief, action, etc.; to avow or acknowledge; to confess publicly; to own or admit freely. "Hear me profess sincerely." Shak.

The best and wisest of them all professed
To know this only, that he nothing knew.

Milton. 2. To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put on or present an appearance of.

I do profess to be no less than I seem.

Shak. 3. To present to knowledge of, to proclaim one's self versed in; to make one's self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such); as, he professes surgery; to profess one's self a physician.

Profess Pro·fess" intransitive verb 1. To take a profession upon one's self by a public declaration; to confess. Drayton. 2. To declare friendship. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Professed Pro·fessed" adjective Openly declared, avowed, acknowledged, or claimed; as, a professed foe; a professed tyrant; a professed Christian. The professed (R. C. Ch.) , a certain class among the Jesuits bound by a special vow. See the note under Jesuit .

Professedly Pro·fess"ed·ly adverb By profession.

Profession Pro·fes"sion noun [ French, from Latin professio . See Profess , v. ] 1. The act of professing or claiming; open declaration; public avowal or acknowledgment; as, professions of friendship; a profession of faith.

A solemn vow, promise, and profession .

Bk. of Com. Prayer. 2. That which one professed; a declaration; an avowal; a claim; as, his professions are insincere.

The Indians quickly perceive the coincidence or the contradiction between professions and conduct.

J. Morse. 3. That of which one professed knowledge; the occupation, if not mechanical, agricultural, or the like, to which one devotes one's self; the business which one professes to understand, and to follow for subsistence; calling; vocation; employment; as, the profession of arms; the profession of a clergyman, lawyer, or physician; the profession of lecturer on chemistry.

Hi tried five or six professions in turn.

Macaulay. » The three professions , or learned professions , are, especially, theology, law, and medicine. 4. The collective body of persons engaged in a calling; as, the profession distrust him. 5. (Eccl. Law.) The act of entering, or becoming a member of, a religious order.

Professional Pro·fes"sion·al adjective 1. Of or pertaining to a profession, or calling; conforming to the rules or standards of a profession; following a profession; as, professional knowledge; professional conduct. "Pride, not personal, but professional ." Macaulay. "A professional sneerer." De Quincey. 2. Engaged in by professionals; as, a professional race; -- opposed to amateur .

Professional Pro·fes"sion·al noun A person who prosecutes anything professionally, or for a livelihood, and not in the character of an amateur; a professional worker.

Professionalism Pro·fes"sion·al·ism noun The following of a profession, sport, etc., as an occupation; -- opposed to amateurism .

Professionalist Pro·fes"sion·al·ist noun professional person. [ R.]

Professionally Pro·fes"sion·al·ly adverb In a professional manner or capacity; by profession or calling; in the exercise of one's profession; one employed professionally .

Professor Pro·fess"or noun [ Latin , a teacher, a public teacher: confer French professeur . See Profess .] 1. One who professed, or makes open declaration of, his sentiments or opinions; especially, one who makes a public avowal of his belief in the Scriptures and his faith in Christ, and thus unites himself to the visible church. " Professors of religion." Bacon. 2. One who professed, or publicly teaches, any science or branch of learning; especially, an officer in a university, college, or other seminary, whose business it is to read lectures, or instruct students, in a particular branch of learning; as a professor of theology, of botany, of mathematics, or of political economy.

Professorial Pro`fes·so"ri·al adjective [ Latin professorius : confer French professorial .] Of or pertaining to a professor; as, the professional chair; professional interest.

Professorialism Pro`fes·so"ri·al·ism noun The character, manners, or habits of a professor. [ R.]

Professoriat Pro`fes·so"ri·at noun See Professoriate .

Professoriate Pro`fes·so"ri·ate noun 1. The body of professors, or the professorial staff, in a university or college. 2. A professorship.

Professorship Pro·fess"or·ship noun The office or position of a professor, or public teacher. Walton.

Professory Pro·fes"so·ry adjective [ Latin professorius .] Of or pertaining to a professor; professorial. [ R.] Bacon.

Proffer Prof"fer transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Proffered ; present participle & verbal noun Proffering .] [ Middle English profren , proferen , French proférer , from Latin proferre to bring forth or forward, to offer; pro forward + ferre to bring. See Bear to produce.] 1. To offer for acceptance; to propose to give; to make a tender of; as, to proffer a gift; to proffer services; to proffer friendship. Shak.

I reck not what wrong that thou me profre .

Chaucer. 2. To essay or attempt of one's own accord; to undertake, or propose to undertake. [ R.] Milton.

Proffer Prof"fer noun 1. An offer made; something proposed for acceptance by another; a tender; as, proffers of peace or friendship.

He made a proffer to lay down his commission.

Clarendon. 2. Essay; attempt. [ R.] Bacon.

Profferer Prof"fer·er noun One who proffers something.

Proficience, Proficiency Pro·fi"cience, Pro·fi"cien·cy noun The quality of state of being proficient; advance in the acquisition of any art, science, or knowledge; progression in knowledge; improvement; adeptness; as, to acquire proficiency in music.

Proficient Pro·fi"cient noun [ Latin proficiens , -entis , present participle of proficere to go forward, make progress; pro forward + facere to make. See Fact , and confer Profit , ] One who has made considerable advances in any business, art, science, or branch of learning; an expert; an adept; as, proficient in a trade; a proficient in mathematics, music, etc.

Proficient Pro·fi"cient adjective Well advanced in any branch of knowledge or skill; possessed of considerable acquirements; well-skilled; versed; adept,

Proficiently Pro·fi"cient·ly adverb In a proficient manner.

Proficuous Pro·fic"u·ous adjective [ Latin proficuus .] Profitable; advantageous; useful. [ Obsolete] Harvey.

Profile Pro"file noun [ Italian profilo , from Latin pro before + filum a thread, an outline, shape: confer French profil . See File arow, and confer Purfle , Purl , a fringe.] 1. An outline, or contour; as, the profile of an apple. 2. (Paint & Sculp.) A human head represented sidewise, or in a side view; the side face or half face. 3. (a) (Architecture) A section of any member, made at right angles with its main lines, showing the exact shape of moldings and the like. (b) (Civil Engin.) A drawing exhibiting a vertical section of the ground along a surveyed line, or graded work, as of a railway, showing elevations, depressions, grades, etc. Profile paper (Civil Engin.) , paper ruled with vertical and horizontal lines forming small oblong rectangles, adapted for drawing profiles.

Profile Pro"file transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Profiled ; present participle & verbal noun Profiling ] [ Confer French profiler , Italian profilare . See Profile , noun ] 1. to draw the outline of; to draw in profile, as an architectural member. 2. (Mech.) To shape the outline of an object by passing a cutter around it. Profiling machine , a jigging machine.

Profiling Pro"fil·ing noun (Fort.) In the construction of fieldworks, the erection at proper intervals of wooden profiles, to show to the workmen the sectional form of the parapets at those points.

Profilist Pro"fil·ist noun One who takes profiles.

Profit Pro"fit noun [ French, from Latin profectus advance, progress, profit, from profectum . See Proficient .] 1. Acquisition beyond expenditure; excess of value received for producing, keeping, or selling, over cost; hence, pecuniary gain in any transaction or occupation; emolument; as, a profit on the sale of goods.

Let no man anticipate uncertain profits .

Rambler. 2. Accession of good; valuable results; useful consequences; benefit; avail; gain; as, an office of profit ,

This I speak for your own profit .

1 Cor. vii. 35.

If you dare do yourself a profit and a right.

Shak. Syn. -- Benefit; avail; service; improvement; advancement; gain; emolument.

Profit Prof"it transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Profited ; present participle & verbal noun Profiting .] [ French profiter . See Profit , noun ] To be of service to; to be good to; to help on; to benefit; to advantage; to avail; to aid; as, truth profits all men.

The word preached did not profit them .

Hebrew iv. 2.

It is a great means of profiting yourself, to copy diligently excellent pieces and beautiful designs.

Dryden.

Profit Prof"it intransitive verb 1. To gain advantage; to make improvement; to improve; to gain; to advance.

I profit not by thy talk.

Shak. 2. To be of use or advantage; to do or bring good.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath.

Prov. xi. 4.

Profitable Prof"it·a·ble adjective [ French profitable .] Yielding or bringing profit or gain; gainful; lucrative; useful; helpful; advantageous; beneficial; as, a profitable trade; profitable business; a profitable study or profession.

What was so profitable to the empire became fatal to the
emperor.

Arbuthnot. -- Prof"it*a*ble*ness , noun -- Prof"it*a*bly , adverb

Profiting Prof"it·ing noun Gain; advantage; profit.

That thy profiting may appear to all.

1 Tim. iv. 15.

Profitless Prof"it·less adjective Without profit; unprofitable. Shak.

Profligacy Prof"li·ga·cy noun [ See Profligate , adjective ] The quality of state of being profligate; a profligate or very vicious course of life; a state of being abandoned in moral principle and in vice; dissoluteness.

Profligate Prof"li·gate adjective [ Latin profligatus , past participle of profligare to strike or dash to the ground, to destroy; pro before + a word akin to fligere to strike. See Afflict .] 1. Overthrown; beaten; conquered. [ Obsolete]

The foe is profligate , and run.

Hudibras. 2. Broken down in respect of rectitude, principle, virtue, or decency; openly and shamelessly immoral or vicious; dissolute; as, profligate man or wretch.

A race more profligate than we.

Roscommon.

Made prostitute and profligate muse.

Dryden. Syn. -- Abandoned; corrupt; dissolute; vitiated; depraved; vicious; wicked. See Abandoned .

Profligate Prof"li·gate noun An abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person. "Such a profligate as Antony." Swift.

Profligate Prof"li·gate transitive verb To drive away; to overcome. [ A Latinism] [ Obsolete] Harvey.

Profligately Prof"li·gate·ly adverb In a profligate manner.

Profligateness Prof"li·gate·ness noun The quality of being profligate; an abandoned course of life; profligacy.

Profligation Prof`li·ga"tion noun [ Latin profligatio .] Defeat; rout; overthrow. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Profluence Prof"lu·ence noun [ Latin profluentia .] Quality of being profluent; course. [ R.] Sir H. Wotton.