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Webster 1828 Edition


Competence

COMPETENCE

,PETENCY, n.
1.
Sufficiency; such a quantity as is sufficient; property or means of subsistence sufficient to furnish the necessaries and conveniences of life, without superfluity.
Reasons whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,
Lie in three words, health, peace, and competence.
2.
Sufficiency, applied to other things than property; but this application is less common.
3.
Legal capacity or qualifications; fitness; as the competence of a witness, which consists in his having the qualifications required by law, as age, soundness of mind, impartiality, &c.
4.
Right or authority; legal power or capacity to take cognizance of a cause; as the competence of a judge or court to examine and decide.
5.
Fitness; adequacy; suitableness; legal sufficiency; as the competency of evidence.

Definition 2024


competence

competence

See also: compétence

English

Noun

competence (countable and uncountable, plural competences)

  1. (uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.
    • 2005, Lies Sercu and Ewa Bandura, Foreign Language Teachers and Intercultural Competence: An International Investigation:
      Teachers are now required to teach intercultural communicative competence.
  2. (countable) The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; the quality or state of being competent for a particular task.
    • 1961, National Council for Elementary Science (U.S.), Science Education:
      What professional competencies do science teachers need?
  3. A sustainable income.
    • Alexander Pope
      Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, / Lie in three words health, peace, and competence.
    • 1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, chapter 17
      “money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned.”
  4. (countable) In law, the legal authority to deal with a matter.
    That question is out with the competence of this court and must be taken to a higher court.

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References

  • competence” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.