GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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Found one definition
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Incompetent (?), a. [L. incompetens: cf. F. incompétent. See In- not, and Competent.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Not competent; wanting in adequate strength, power, capacity, means, qualifications, or the like; incapable; unable; inadequate; unfit.
[1913 Webster]
Incompetent to perform the duties of the place. Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Law) Wanting the legal or constitutional qualifications; inadmissible; as, “a person professedly wanting in religious belief is an incompetent witness in a court of law or equity; incompetent evidence; a mentally defective person is incompetent to care for himself and requires a legal guardian.”
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Richard III. had a resolution, out of hatred to his brethren, to disable their issues, upon false and incompetent pretexts, the one of attainder, the other of illegitimation. Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
3. Not lying within one's competency, capacity, or authorized power; not permissible.
Syn. -- Incapable; unable; inadequate; insufficient; inefficient; disqualified; unfit; improper. -- Incompetent, Incapable. Incompetent is a relative term, denoting a lack of the requisite qualifications for performing a given act, service, etc.; incapable is absolute in its meaning, denoting lack of power, either natural or moral. We speak of a man as incompetent to a certain task, of an incompetent judge, etc. We say of an idiot that he is incapable of learning to read; and of a man distinguished for his honor, that he is incapable of a mean action.
[1913 Webster]