Etymology
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qualified (adj.)

1580s, "fitted by accomplishments or endowments;" 1590s, "affected by some degree of restriction or modification;" past-participle adjective from qualify (v.). By 1886 and into mid-20c. as a British English euphemism for bloody or damned.

To be competent is to have the natural abilities or the general training necessary for any given work ; to be qualified is to have, in addition to competency, a special training, enabling one to begin the work effectively and at once. He who is competent may or may not require time to becomequalified; he who is not competent cannot become qualified, for it is not in him. [Century Dictionary]

Entries linking to qualified

qualify (v.)

mid-15c., qualifien, transitive, "to invest with (a quality), impart a certain quality to," from French qualifier (15c.) and directly from Medieval Latin qualificare "attribute a quality to; make of a certain quality," from Latin qualis "of what sort?," correlative pronominal adjective (see quality) + combining form of facere "to make" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").

Meaning "to limit, modify by a limitation or reservation, restrict" is from 1530s, as is the sense of "to have or have taken the necessary steps for rendering oneself capable of holding an office, etc." The sense of "to be or become fit for an employment, office, etc." is by 1580s. Related: Qualified; qualifying.

updated on July 29, 2022

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Definitions of qualified from WordNet

qualified (adj.)
meeting the proper standards and requirements and training for an office or position or task;
many qualified applicants for the job
qualified (adj.)
limited or restricted; not absolute;
gave only qualified approval
qualified (adj.)
holding appropriate documentation and officially on record as qualified to perform a specified function or practice a specified skill;
Synonyms: certified
qualified (adj.)
restricted in meaning; (as e.g. `man' in `a tall man');
Synonyms: restricted
qualified (adj.)
contingent on something else;
Synonyms: dependent / dependant
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near qualified

quaint

quake

Quaker

quale

qualification

qualified

qualifier

qualify

qualitative

quality

qualm

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper