Main Entry:

com·pe·tent

Pronunciation:

\ˈkäm-pə-tənt\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, suitable, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin competent-, competens, from present participle of competere

Date:

15th century

1: proper or rightly pertinent2: 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>

synonyms see sufficient

— com·pe·tent·ly adverb