All 6 Uses of
competent
in
Jane Eyre
- If J.E., who advertised in the —shire Herald of last Thursday, possesses the acquirements mentioned, and if she is in a position to give satisfactory references as to character and competency, a situation can be offered her where there is but one pupil, a little girl, under ten years of age; and where the salary is thirty pounds per annum.
Chpt 10 (definition 1) *competency = ability
- Mrs. Fairfax turned out to be what she appeared, a placid-tempered, kind-natured woman, of competent education and average intelligence.
Chpt 12 (definition 1)competent = sufficient
- I have suffered a martyrdom from their incompetency and caprice.
Chpt 17 (definition 1)incompetency = inability to do things sufficientlystandard prefix: The prefix "in-" in incompetency means not and reverses the meaning of competency. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
- Providence has blessed my endeavours to secure a competency; and as I am unmarried and childless, I wish to adopt her during my life, and bequeath her at my death whatever I may have to leave.†
Chpt 21 (definition 1)
- I do not speak to the feeble, or think of them: I address only such as are worthy of the work, and competent to accomplish it.
Chpt 34 (definition 1)competent = sufficiently capable
Uses with a very rare meaning:
- The instruments of transfer were drawn out: St. John, Diana, Mary, and I, each became possessed of a competency.
Chpt 33 (definition 2) *competency = legal capability
Definitions:
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(1) (competent) capable (able to do something in a generally satisfactory manner) -- sometimes specifically to have legal capability
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(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus) In the field of law, competent has the specialized meaning of being legally qualified to do something such as to be mentally fit to make reasonable decisions; or to have jurisdiction or authority to take an action.
In classic literature, a competency can refer to having an income or assets to support living expenses.