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.
p. 105.3 *competency = ability
- Mrs. Fairfax turned out to be what she appeared, a placid-tempered, kind-natured woman, of competent education and average intelligence.
p. 128.2competent = sufficient
- I have suffered a martyrdom from their incompetency and caprice.
p. 205.5incompetency = 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.
- 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.
p. 463.6competent = sufficiently capable
- 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.†
p. 274.9
Uses with a meaning too rare to warrant foucs:
- The instruments of transfer were drawn out: St. John, Diana, Mary, and I, each became possessed of a competency.
p. 448.9 *competency = legal capability
Definitions:
-
(1)
(competent) capable (able to do something in a generally satisfactory manner) -- sometimes specifically to have legal capability
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) 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.