Part 2184

<blockquote>Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but <b>competency</b> lives longer. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>Legal capacity or qualifications; fitness; <as>as, the <ex>competency</ex> of a witness or of a evidence</as>.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>Right or authority; legal power or capacity to take cognizance of a cause; <as>as, the <ex>competence</ex> of a judge or court</as>.</def>

<i>Kent.</i>

<h1>Competent</h1> <Xpage=290>

<hw>Com"pe*tent</hw> <tt>(?; 94)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>comp\'82tent</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>comp\'82ter</ets> to be in the competency of, LL. <ets>competere</ets> to strive after together, to agree with; hence, to be fit. See <er>Compete</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Answering to all requirements; adeqouate; sufficient; suitable; capable; legally qualified; fit.</def> "A <i>competent</i> knowledge of the world." <i>Arrerbury.</i> "<i>Competent</i> age." <i>Grafton.</i> "<i>Competent</i> statesmen." <i>Palfrey.</i> /"A <i>competent</i> witness." <i>Bouvier.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Rightfully or properly belonging; incident; -- followed by <i>to</i>.</def> <mark>[Rare, except in legal usage.]</mark>

<blockquote>That is the privillege of the infinite Author of things, . . . but is not <b>competent</b> to any finite being. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- See <er>Qualified</er>.</syn>

<h1>Competently</h1> <Xpage=290>

<hw>Com"pe*tent*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a competent manner; adequately; suitably.</def>

<h1>Competible</h1> <Xpage=290>

<hw>Com*pet"i*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Compatible; suitable; consistent.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Sir M. Hale.</i>

<h1>Competition</h1> <Xpage=290>

<hw>Com`pe*ti"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>competitio</ets>. See <er>Conpete</er>.]</ety> <def>The act of seeking, or endevearing to gain, what another is endeavoring to gain at the same time; common strife for the same objects; strife for superiority; emulous contest; rivalry, as for approbation, for a prize, or as where two or more persons are engaged in the same business and each seeking patronage; -- followed by <i>for</i> before the object sought, and <i>with</i> before the person or thing competed with.</def>

<blockquote><b>Competition</b> to the crown there is none, nor can be. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A portrait, with which one of Titian's could not come in <b>competititon</b>. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>There is no <b>competition</b> but for the second place. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Where <b>competition</b> does not act at all there is complete monopoly. <i>A. T. Hadley.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Emulation; rivalry; rivalship; contest; struggle; contention; opposition; jealousy. See <er>Emulation</er>.</syn>

<h1>Competitive</h1> <Xpage=290>

<hw>Com*pet"i*tive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Of or pertaining to competition; producing competition; competitory; <as>as, a <ex>competitive</ex> examination</as>.</def>

<h1>Competitor</h1> <Xpage=290>

<hw>Com*pet"i*tor</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L.: cf. F. <ets>comp\'82titeur</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who seeks what another seeks, or claims what another claims; one who competes; a rival.</def>

<blockquote>And can not brook <b>competitors</b> in love. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An associate; a confederate.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Every hour more <b>competitors</b> Flock to their aid, and still their power increaseth. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Competitory</h1> <Xpage=290>