a. Capable of being qualified; abatable; modifiable. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. qualification. See Qualify. ] 1. The act of qualifying, or the condition of being qualified. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which qualifies; any natural endowment, or any acquirement, which fits a person for a place, office, or employment, or which enables him to sustian any character with success; an enabling quality or circumstance; requisite capacity or possession. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no qualification for government but virtue and wisdom, actual or presumptive. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of limiting, or the state of being limited; that which qualifies by limiting; modification; restriction; hence, abatement; diminution; as, to use words without any qualification. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which qualifies, modifies, or restricts; a qualifying term or statement. [ 1913 Webster ]

How many qualificatives, correctives, and restrictives he inserteth in this relation. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. ] (R. C. Ch.) An officer whose business it is to examine and prepare causes for trial in the ecclesiastical courts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Fitted by accomplishments or endowments. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Modified; limited; as, a qualified statement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Qualified fee (Law), a base fee, or an estate which has a qualification annexed to it, the fee ceasing with the qualification, as a grant to A and his heirs, tenants of the manor of Dale. --
Qualified indorsement (Law), an indorsement which modifies the liability of the indorser that would result from the general principles of law, but does not affect the negotiability of the instrument. Story. --
Qualified negative (Legislation), a limited veto power, by which the chief executive in a constitutional government may refuse assent to bills passed by the legislative body, which bills therefore fail to become laws unless upon a reconsideration the legislature again passes them by a certain majority specified in the constitution, when they become laws without the approval of the executive. --
Qualified property (Law), that which depends on temporary possession, as that in wild animals reclaimed, or as in the case of a bailment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Competent; fit; adapted. -- Qualified, Competent. Competent is most commonly used with respect to native endowments and general ability suited to the performance of a task or duty; qualified with respect to specific acquirements and training. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the way of qualification; with modification or qualification. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being qualified. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, qualifies; that which modifies, reduces, tempers or restrains. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be or become qualified; to be fit, as for an office or employment. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To obtain legal power or capacity by taking the oath, or complying with the forms required, on assuming an office. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]