From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Qualify \Qual"i*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Qualified}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Qualifying}.] [F. qualifier, LL. qualificare, fr. L.
qualis how constituted, as + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See
{Quality}, and {-Fy}.]
1. To make such as is required; to give added or requisite
qualities to; to fit, as for a place, office, occupation,
or character; to furnish with the knowledge, skill, or
other accomplishment necessary for a purpose; to make
capable, as of an employment or privilege; to supply with
legal power or capacity.
[1913 Webster]
He had qualified himself for municipal office by
taking the oaths to the sovereigns in possession.
--Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
2. To give individual quality to; to modulate; to vary; to
regulate.
[1913 Webster]
It hath no larynx . . . to qualify the sound. --Sir
T. Browne.
[1913 Webster]
3. To reduce from a general, undefined, or comprehensive
form, to particular or restricted form; to modify; to
limit; to restrict; to restrain; as, to qualify a
statement, claim, or proposition.
[1913 Webster]
4. Hence, to soften; to abate; to diminish; to assuage; to
reduce the strength of, as liquors.
[1913 Webster]
I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire,
But qualify the fire's extreme rage. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
5. To soothe; to cure; -- said of persons. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
In short space he has them qualified. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: To fit; equip; prepare; adapt; capacitate; enable;
modify; soften; restrict; restrain; temper.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
qualifying
n 1: the grammatical relation that exists when a word qualifies
the meaning of the phrase [syn: {modification},
{qualifying}, {limiting}]
2: success in satisfying a test or requirement; "his future
depended on his passing that test"; "he got a pass in
introductory chemistry" [syn: {passing}, {pass},
{qualifying}] [ant: {failing}, {flunk}]
|
