Competency

[ad. L. competentia: see -ENCY. For the sense-history see COMPETENCE.]

  I.  In sense of COMPETE v.²

  † 1.  Rivalry, competition. Obs.

1594.  Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, xiii. (1596), 233. If differences of wits, so far distant as these, do enter into competencie, the one … getteth learning in a trice, and the other … can small skill in the matter.

1599.  Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 67. The Dominicans strive in competencie with the Franciscans in all things.

1600.  E. Blount, Uniting Port. to Castile, 92. This competencie seruing as a spurre.

1604.  Edmonds, Observ. Cæsar’s Comm., 20. Things of greater condition are alwayes iniurious to lesser natures, and cannot endure any competencie.

1638.  N. Ferrers, trans. Valdes’ Consid., 194. The men of the world … have no competency with them.

  II.  In sense of COMPETE v.¹

  † 2.  A sufficient supply; a sufficiency of. Obs.

1616.  Bullokar, Competencie, sufficiency.

1619.  Dalton, Country Just., xl. (1630), 91. Having competencie of wealth, wisdome, and a good conscience.

1639.  Fuller, Holy War, I. ii. (1647), 3. The countrey recovered not a competencie of inhabitants for some hundred years after.

1670.  Clarendon, Contempl. Ps., Tracts (1727), 576. A competency of discretion and foresight.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 91, ¶ 1. He has a Competency of Fortune without Superfluity.

a. 1734.  North, Lives (1826), II. 365. Commissions to return with, of which he had a competency.

  3.  A sufficiency, without superfluity, of the means of life; a competent estate or income.

1598.  Barckley, Felic. Man (1631), 67. A Competencie sufficient preferred before surfeit.

1625.  Burges, Pers. Tithes, 8. If the Minister haue a Competencie arising from Tithes, Tradesmen are not bound to make a larger allowance then the Lawes of the Realme binde them vnto.

1645.  Pagitt, Heresiogr. (ed. 4), 163. He would have them to have competencies.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones (1775), II. 329. There is no happiness in this world without a competency.

1859.  Smiles, Self-Help, viii. 206. To retire upon a competency to his native town.

1872.  E. Peacock, Mabel H., II. i. 7. John … might leave his daughter a competency.

  b.  The condition of having a sufficient income; easy circumstances; = COMPETENCE 3 b.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., I. ii. 9. Superfluitie comes sooner by white haires, but competencie liues longer.

1796.  Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 46. Their general competency is greatly owing to contempt of tyrannic fashions.

1803.  Wellesley, Disp., 365. A state of dignity, competency, and comfort.

1836.  Hor. Smith, Tin Trump. (1876), 98. Competency—a financial horizon, which recedes as we advance.

  4.  Sufficiency of qualification; capacity; = COMPETENCE 4.

1797.  Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. VIII. 351. The loan demonstrates, in regard to instrumental resources, the competency of this kingdom to the assertion of the common cause.

1836.  J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., ix. (1852), 288. It is not within our competency to imagine.

1848.  C. Brontë, J. Eyre, x. To give satisfactory references as to character and competency.

1858.  J. Martineau, Studies Chr., 304. To deny the ethical competency of the mind for this office.

  b.  esp. Law. The quality or position of being legally competent; legal capacity.

1597.  Daniel, Civ. Wares, IV. xxii. Whose competencie was of tender touch: although his might was small, his right was much.

1650.  Exerc. conc. Usurp. Power, 81. They that teach … the competency, yea duty, of any that have force to play the Magistrate.

1767.  Blackstone, Comm., II. 377. The judges were extremely strict in regard to the credibility, or rather the competency, of the witnesses.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. v. 445. She refused … to acknowledge the competency of the tribunal before which she was called.