competent
com·pe·tent
adj \ˈkäm-pə-tənt\Definition of COMPETENT
1
: proper or rightly pertinent
2
: having requisite or adequate ability or qualities : fit <a competent teacher> <a competent piece of work>
3
: legally qualified or adequate <a competent witness>
4
: having the capacity to function or develop in a particular way; specifically : having the capacity to respond (as by producing an antibody) to an antigenic determinant <immunologically competent cells>
— com·pe·tent·ly adverb
See Examples of COMPETENT
- The defendant was declared competent to stand trial.
- <any competent mechanic should be able to fix that>
- … he was tolerated, if not endorsed as the competent painter he was. —Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, 2005
- The crafting of fine violins has proceeded for centuries as a secret art, handed down through apprenticeships from generation to generation. It takes 8 years, at least, to train a competent craftsman, decades to hone a master. —Richard Lipkin, Science News, 3 Sept. 1994
- “Resort cities're transient places,” the detective argued. “… That doesn't mean the police aren't competent.” —Joseph Wambaugh, The Secrets of Harry Bright,1985
- … I discovered that Lieutenant Lincoln—a much-admired man hereabouts, and, I imagine, an exceedingly competent physician—was from Worcester … —Alexander Woollcott, letter, 2 Oct. 1917
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Origin of COMPETENT
Middle English, suitable, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin competent-, competens, from present participle of competere
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to COMPETENT
Related Words: accomplished, ace, adept, experienced, expert, master, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), proficient, seasoned, skilled, skillful, veteran; overqualified; prepared, schooled, trained; apt, ready, willing; all-around (also all-round), protean, versatile
Near Antonyms: inexperienced, inexpert, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful; unprepared, unschooled, untrained; beginning, green, new, raw, untested, untried
See Synonym Discussion at sufficient
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