Incompetent

Incompetent
Incompetent In*com"pe*tent, a. [L. incompetens: cf. F. incomp['e]tent. See {In-} not, and {Competent}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Not competent; wanting in adequate strength, power, capacity, means, qualifications, or the like; incapable; unable; inadequate; unfit. [1913 Webster]

Incompetent to perform the duties of the place. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

2. (Law) Wanting the legal or constitutional qualifications; inadmissible; as, a person professedly wanting in religious belief is an incompetent witness in a court of law or equity; incompetent evidence; a mentally defective person is incompetent to care for himself and requires a legal guardian. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Richard III. had a resolution, out of hatred to his brethren, to disable their issues, upon false and incompetent pretexts, the one of attainder, the other of illegitimation. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

3. Not lying within one's competency, capacity, or authorized power; not permissible.

Syn: Incapable; unable; inadequate; insufficient; inefficient; disqualified; unfit; improper.

Usage: {Incompetent}, {Incapable}. Incompetent is a relative term, denoting a lack of the requisite qualifications for performing a given act, service, etc.; incapable is absolute in its meaning, denoting lack of power, either natural or moral. We speak of a man as incompetent to a certain task, of an incompetent judge, etc. We say of an idiot that he is incapable of learning to read; and of a man distinguished for his honor, that he is incapable of a mean action. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • incompétent — incompétent, ente [ ɛ̃kɔ̃petɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1505; bas lat. incompetens 1 ♦ Dr. Qui n est pas compétent (spécialt d une juridiction). 2 ♦ Cour. Qui n a pas les connaissances suffisantes, l habileté requise pour juger, pour décider d une chose. ⇒… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • incompetent — in·com·pe·tent 1 /in käm pə tənt/ adj 1: not legally qualified: as a: lacking legal capacity (as because of age or mental deficiency) b: incapable due to mental or physical condition compare competent c …   Law dictionary

  • incompetent — INCOMPETÉNT, Ă, incompetenţi, te, adj. Care nu este competent; care nu are dreptul sau căderea de a face ceva; necompetent. ♦ (Despre un organ de stat) Care nu are puterea legală de a judeca, cerceta sau rezolva o anumită problemă. – Din fr.… …   Dicționar Român

  • incompetent — in‧com‧pe‧tent [ɪnˈkɒmptənt ǁ ˈkɑːm ] adjective not having the skill or ability to do a job properly: • Those who are conspicuously incompetent get the sack. incompetence noun [uncountable] : • He was accused of medical incompetence.… …   Financial and business terms

  • incompétent — incompétent, ente (in kon pé tan, tan t ) adj. 1°   Terme de jurisprudence. Qui n est pas compétent. Juge incompétent.    En parlant d un jugement. •   Jamais jugement ne fut plus incompétent [que celui de Marie Stuart], et jamais procédure ne… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • incompetent — (adj.) 1610s, insufficient, from Fr. incompétent, from L.L. incompetentem (nom. incompetens) insufficient, from in not (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + L. competentem (see COMPETENT (Cf. competent)). Sense of lacking qualification or ability first… …   Etymology dictionary

  • incompetent — [in käm′pə tənt] adj. [Fr incompétent < LL incompetens: see IN 2 & COMPETENT] 1. without adequate ability, knowledge, fitness, etc.; failing to meet requirements; incapable; unskillful 2. not legally qualified 3. lacking strength and… …   English World dictionary

  • Incompetent — may be* Incompetent , the legal term of art used to raise the corresponding objection to a question put to a witness * Lacking competence (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

  • incompetent — ► ADJECTIVE 1) not sufficiently skilful to do something successfully. 2) Law not qualified to act in a particular capacity. ► NOUN ▪ an incompetent person. DERIVATIVES incompetence noun incompetency noun incompetently adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • Incompetent — (v. lat.), nicht befugt, ungültig; daher Incompetenz, 1) Unbefugtheit, Unzuständigkeit; 2) in der Gerichtssprache der Mangel an denjenigen Bedingungen, von welchen die Fähigkeit (das Recht) einer Behörde abhängt, eine gewisse Handlung vorzunehmen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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