competent

Etymology

From Middle English competent, conpetent, from Old French competent (modern French compétent), from Latin competens, competentem, present participle of competō (“coincide, be equal to, be capable of”). Compare Dutch competent (“competent”), German kompetent (“competent”), Danish kompetent (“competent”).

adj

1. Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.
   He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.
   I believe in that myself because it has been explained by competent men as the convolutions of the grey matter. 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses
   That as a competent keyless citizen he had proceeded energetically from the unknown to the known through the incertitude of the void. 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses
2. (law) Having jurisdiction or authority over a particular issue or question.
   For any disagreements arising from this contract, the competent court shall be the Springfield Circuit Court.
   judicial authority having competent jurisdiction
3. Adequate for the purpose.
   For if they [birds] had been Viviparous, the burthen of their womb, if they had brought forth any competent number at a time, had been ſo big and heavy, that their wings would have failed them, and ſo every body would have had the wit to catch the Old one. 1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 67
4. (biology, of a cell wall) Permeable to foreign DNA.
5. (geology) Resistant to deformation or flow.