I.inf. profarier, Prud. στεφ. 10, 939), v. dep. a., to say or speak out, to say, speak (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose).
I. In gen.: veteres Casmenas cascam rem volo profari, tell, relate, Att. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 28 Müll.: quod jam et mehe Piget paternum nomen, maternum pudet Profari, Pac. ap. Non. 424, 4 (Trag. Rel. v. 145 Rib.): “pudor prohibebat plura profari,” Hor. S. 1, 6, 57: “tum breviter Dido, vultum demissa, profatur,” Verg. A. 1, 561: “et sic accensa profatur,” id. ib. 4, 364: “quibus ille profatur: Forsitan, etc.,” Ov. M. 11, 289: “vera profari,” Petr. 121: “sic ille profatus,” Luc. 9, 251: “clamore magno,” Sil. 11, 211.—
II. In partic., to foretell, predict, prophesy: quando dies adveniet, quem profata Morta est, Liv. And. ap. Gell. 3, 16, 11 (acc. to Hom. Odyss. 2, 99): “Pythia quae tripodi a Phoebi lauroque profatur,” Lucr. 1, 739; 5, 112: “Delio profante,” Petr. 89; Dig. 21, 1, 1. —Hence, prŏfātum . i, n., a statement, proposition, axiom (post-class.): ἀξιώματα, quae M. Varro alias profata, alias proloquia appellat, Gell. 16, 8, 2.
