competent English · revision 14948

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1398|origins=la competō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkɒm.pɪ.tənt/, US /ˈkɑːm.pɪ.t̬ənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|competent]], [[bor|fro|competent|t=sufficient, appropriate, suitable]] and directly [[la|competēns]], the present participle of [[m|la|competō|t=to coincide, agree, be fit]] (see [[compete]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) It keeps the classical Latin sense of the verb, while the English verb compete has a later one.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Suitable, sufficient: before 1398, in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomew, in Barnhart; the late 14th century in Etymonline, about 1400 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Legally qualified is from 1483, in Caxton.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Suitable to a person's rank is from 1440, adequate in amount from about 1440, and moderate, reasonable from 1535.^(OED 1989) Of persons, able or fit, it is first recorded in 1647.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In geology a stream is competent to carry fragments of a given size (1877).^(OED 1989) Competence meant rivalry in 1594 and an adequate supply in 1597, in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1398 – suitable, sufficient.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1483 – legally qualified.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1535 – moderate, reasonable.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1594 – competence.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1647 – able, capable.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having enough skill or knowledge; [[capable]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Adequate for the purpose: ''a competent answer''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' Legally qualified, as to give evidence.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Belonging as a right, often with ''to''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[competently]]

+ * [[uncompetent]]

+ * [[immunocompetent]]

+ * [[incompetent]]

+ * [[noncompetent]]

+ * [[omnicompetent]]

+ * [[ultracompetent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[competence]]

+ * [[compete]]

+ * [[competition]]

+ * [[appetite]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}