Middle English Dictionary Entry
competent ppl. adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | competent ppl. adj. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Sufficient, adequate (endowment, salary, etc.); fair, good (bed, light, etc.); moderate (spending), medium (height); of ~ age, old enough.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)263a/a : Schepes fleissh is good in springynge tyme and competent in haruest.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)163/12 : We may noþing so worþi offre, competent satisfaccioun to make to God..but if it were our owen body.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.3446 : Salamon..Axed a mene callid suffisaunce, To holde hym content off competent dispence.
- (1442) Visit.Alnwick230 : That nyghtly ye hafe competent lyght in the dormytory to the ease of your susters in rysyng to mattyns.
- (1443) Will York in Sur.Soc.30130 : I will that they make..competent amendes with in a short tyme.
- (1445) Visit.Alnwick115 : Ye, abbesse, do mynystre to thaym..mete and drynke..to thair competent sustynaunce.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)358 : Into which chirche he ȝaf a certein of possessioun for fynding of liȝtis..ouer the competent vnmouable endewing.
- (1450) RParl.5.173a : Such wages and rewardes for theire laboures..as shall be thought by yowre high discretion competent and resonable.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)80/7 : Socrates was of rede colour, of competent gretnes, faire of face.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)224/21 : More than is competent to helth of body.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)7/27 : Summe..wrastlen so long þerwith, til þei gete competent vndirstondyng þerof.
- (1459) Will Fastolf in Nrf.Archaeol.2229 : John Paston shalle make sure to the said Collegions a sufficient Romme, and a competent and an esy duellingplace in the said mansion.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4933 : I yeve and qwethe to..my nece..a competent bed with ij peyre shetys.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.45 : When these childer were of a competente age [L adolevissent].
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)22854 : They made the ffoundacyoun Off this..hous And ȝaff vnto relygyous..lyuelode competent.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)83/27 : He schal leve the toþer woman and haue competent penaunce.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)55 : I shal geve you a competent mede.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)257 : Yf ye wolle yeve to him competente salarye.
2.
Suitable, appropriate; right (dimension); proper or effective (medicine, treatment); ~ place, time, convenient place, time; ~ for, ~ to, suitable for (a purpose).
Associated quotations
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)200/30 : Make him a purgacioun with gotis whey..or anoþir competent medicyn.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)287/15 : Wiþ an instrument þat is competent þerfore.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8652 : In a feld..Most competent as for a logging place.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)43a/a : Emplastre with bole armoniac..is competent [*Ch.(2): acordeþ; L competit] in processe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)161a/a : In sikenez bigynnyng, none euacuacioun is competent or according.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)161b/b : For to mollifie þe materie..bifore þat þe wombe be loused, is a competent rewle.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)9/13 : It ow to be made of boxe or of anoþir competent tree.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)60/39 : To þe curyng of þe emoroidez is fleobotomy competent.
- (1439) Agree.Build.St.John in BAAJ 25118 : A roof of the hert of ook only, competent to the wallys of the Chapel of Seynt John.
- (1448) Shillingford69 : At suche leysur, tyme, and place competent as hit woll like your gode lordshippes.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)269/39 : A pipe of 6 foote longe with his competent brede is a tenor in dyapason to a pipe of 3 fote with his competent brede.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)79 : If..he withstonde..yiueth him day competent at the assyses of jugement.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.221 : Soo greet a nombre of people..must be abregged..to a resonnable and a competent felisship as may worshipfully be..susteigned.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)34 : Bi oportunite or conpetent acordauns, to be redi to fil it in dede.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.32.78b : To eueri contre suche an heed..is most able and competent of reason, which þat is inherited in þe same contre.
3.
Proper (with respect to rules, conventions, conduct); approved.
Associated quotations
- a1422 Gild St.Geo.Nrw.(Rwl D.913)445 : To kepe hir fest in competent place, be the alderman and maistres assigned.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)82/20 : He that enforcith him to come to a state the whiche is not competent to him.
- (1455-6) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)375 : Where before this tyme ther hath be of the saide crafte a competent felisship of men of thrifte [etc.].
- (1458) Will York in Sur.Soc.30223 : iij c marc in and fore a competent mariage.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Wycl.Tithes (Trin-C O.1.29)271/124 : Lokes also þat ȝe haue competent howsynge and honeste seruandes.
Note: Additional quot., sense 2.