Profession
/prəˈfɛʃən/noun
A paid occupation, or a public declaration of belief or commitment.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin *professio*, a formal declaration or avowal, from *profiteri* meaning “to declare openly,” so its oldest power was not work — it was spoken commitment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bha-
“to speak, say”
Latin
Latin
fateri
“to confess, admit, acknowledge”
Latin
Latin
profiteri
“to declare openly, avow publicly”
Latin
Latin
professio
“a public declaration, avowal”
Old French
Old French
profession
“religious vow; public declaration”
Middle English
English
professioun
“a vow, declaration, or religious order”
Modern English
English
profession
“an occupation requiring special training; a declaration of belief or faith”