Sufficient

a. (adv., sb.) Forms: 4 Sc. sufficyand, -yciand, 4–5 -icia(u)nt(e, 4–6 icyent, Sc. -iciand, 5 -isia(u)nt, -yceant, -ycient, -ycyaunt, -ysyent, -eceant, 5–6 -ycyent, -iente, 6 -iecient, 6–7 -itient, (7 sophytient), 4– sufficient. [a. OF. sufficient, -ant, or ad. its source L. sufficiens, -ent-, pr. pple. of sufficĕre to SUFFICE. Cf. It. soffic(i)ente, Sp. suficiente, Pg. sufficiente. In ME. the word was partially assimilated in spelling to SUFFISANT.

  Formerly † sufficient enough was used in various senses.]

  A.  adj.

  1.  Of a quantity, extent or scope adequate to a certain purpose or object.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 260. Ȝif þei tellen a good sufficient cause, telle we þe same cause whi we bileuen þat þis is cristis gospel.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 4396. Þat seising burde sufficiant, þofe soȝt ȝe na ferre.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxi. 242. Ye hadde mete and also good wynes suffycyent at home.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 32. In former times a mans bare word was sufficient, now no instrument, band, nor obligation can be sure inough.

1614.  Day, Festivals, xi. (1615), 318. Should we … praise our God whole Daies, and whole Nights…, it were not sufficient enough.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 5. What thanks sufficient … have I to render thee?

1721.  Bradley, Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat., 186. Some Variety of such exotick Rarities from the hotter Climates, as afford the curious sufficient matter of Admiration.

1817.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. v. 177. Intelligence was in sufficient time received … to enable him to collect an army.

1865.  S. Wilberforce, Sp. Missions (1874), 166. It will be quite sufficient if, in the fewest words, I venture to suggest one or two considerations which [etc.].

1884.  Gilmour, Mongols, xxxi. 361. Many a lama who has nominally a sufficient income never receives more than half of his due.

  b.  Const. for: (a) = to furnish means or material for, to supply, to provide for the performance of (a thing).

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 346. For noumbre of preestis brouȝt in bi Crist was sufficient for Cristis hous…. Who mai denye þat ne þis noumbre of þes officeris is now to myche?

c. 1460.  Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., viii. (1885), 126. How necessarie it is þat livelod sufficient be asseigned ffor the kynges ordinarie charges.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 32 b. Treasure sufficient … for such a journey roiall.

1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, I. (1577), G ij. My talke hath not beene … sufficient ynough for the weightinesse of the matter.

1715.  Atterbury, Serm. (Matt. xxvii. 25) (1734), I. 132. These Prophecies … were sufficient for the Conviction of any Men, who did not lie … under a Judicial Infatuation.

1774.  Chesterf., Lett., xv. Romulus … not having sufficient inhabitants for his new city.

1892.  Photogr. Ann., II. 557. That is sufficient range for any purpose.

  (b)  = to provide for the needs or accommodation of, to satisfy (a person or animal). Also with acc. and inf.

1535.  Fisher, Wayes perf. Relig., Wks. (1876), 382. Yet hath he still in him self loue sufficient for infinite moe.

1577.  Holinshed, Hist. Scot., 432/1. It appeareth to be sufficient ynough for vs.

1585.  Knaresb. Wills (Surtees), I. 150. Sufficient hay for his horse.

1611.  Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 4. A doctrine … so tempered, that euery one may draw from thence that which is sufficient for him.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 17 Oct. 1644. The publiq armoury … sufficient for 30,000 men.

a. 1720.  Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), II. VII. 1. There was not sufficient room for all to sit down at once.

1832.  Brewster, Nat. Magic, x. 252. A few general observations will perhaps be sufficient for ordinary readers.

1876.  E. Mellor, Priesth., iv. 164. If the sacrament in one kind is sufficient for the people it is sufficient for the priest.

  c.  Const. to in the same senses. rare.

1539.  Great Bible, Matt. vi. 34. Sufficient into the daye, is the trauayle therof.

1647.  Saltmarsh, Spark. Glory (1847), 20. It ought to be sufficient to us, that the Scriptures [etc.].

1718.  Atterbury, Serm. (Acts i. 3) (1734), I. 174. It was sufficient to that Purpose.

1751.  Earl Orrery, Rem. Swift (1752), 78. His wit was sufficient to every labour.

1886.  Saintsbury, Ess. Eng. Lit. (1891), 439. He … is very sufficient also to the tastes of all those who love good English.

  ¶ Construed as pr. pple. with dative regimen.

1423.  Acts Privy Counc., III. 95. Wee consideringe y^e saide some … nought suffeceant yow to y^e … redy paiement of youre saide wages.

  d.  Const. to with inf.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 413. Siþ þo gospel is … sufficyent in treuthe to governe Cristis Churche.

1527.  in Leadam, Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.), II. 166. They can not fynde … that ther is corne sufficient in the same shyre to susteyne the people.

1579–80.  North, Plutarch (1595), 80. The ouer excessiue speeches … were not sufficient enough to expresse the peaceable raign.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, I. xv. (1912), 97. He … having a fortune sufficient to content, & he content with a sufficient fortune.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 115. I cannot cease to praie you diligentlie to practise, for that onelie is sufficient to make a perfect Musician.

1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 102. And by proof we feel Our power sufficient to disturb his Heav’n.

1688.  Col. Rec. Pennsylv., I. 228. A sufficient number to make a Quorum.

1736.  Butler, Anal., I. i. Wks. 1874, I. 31. The same kind of force which is sufficient to suspend our faculties … will be sufficient to destroy them.

1820.  W. Irving, Sketch Bk., II. 99. The beauty of the day was of itself sufficient to inspire philanthropy.

1890.  Law Times Rep., LXIII. 765/1. Even a threatened interference with a plaintiff’s rights … is sufficient to justify him in taking proceedings.

  e.  impers. with dependent clause or inf.

1538.  Starkey, England (1878), 44. Suffycyent hyt ys that no man by nature ys excludyd from felycyte.

1553.  Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 5. They thought it not sufficiente in their life time to deserue prayse.

1667.  Milton, P. L., XI. 252. Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard.

1797.  S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T. (1799), I. 390. It is sufficient that I know thy guilt.

  † f.  Satisfactory. Obs. rare.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 368. With a wertu of leavte A man may ȝeit sufficyand be.

  g.  Achieving its object; effective. rare.

1831.  Scott, Ct. Robt., xi. She … dealt him so sufficient a blow, that Toxartis lay lifeless on the plain.

1897.  ‘A. Hope,’ Phroso, vii. 130. Phroso paused in her recital of the savage, simple, sufficient old trick.

  2.  In technical language. a. Of legal documents, securities, etc.

1461.  Paston Lett., II. 34. [They] shall have a signement sufficient to hem aggreabill for the seid payment.

1472–3.  Rolls of Parlt., VI. 40/2. That the seid writyng endented … be lawfull and sufficient warant and discharge ayenst your Highnes.

1495, 1523.  [see DISCHARGE sb. 4 e].

1551.  in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 56. This our Lettre shalbe your sufficient discharge for the same.

1592.  West, 1st Pt. Symbol., § 103 d. That then the suruiuor … shall with ij. other sufficient suerties … by their sufficient & lawfull writing obligatory become … bound [etc.].

1628.  Coke, On Litt., 270. If the lessee enter into the land, and hath possession of it by force of the said lease, then such release made to him by the feoffor, or by his heire is sufficient to him.

a. 1768.  Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., IV. iv. § 90 (1773), 737. Libels might be so laid as to deprive the pannel of every article of exculpation, let it be ever so sufficient.

1820.  Gifford, Compl. Eng. Lawyer, 82. The sheriff … is obliged to take (if it be tendered) a sufficient bail-bond. Ibid., 662. The said H. B. doth hereby agree, by good and sufficient conveyance in the law … to assign … unto the said C. D. … all those three houses [etc.].

  b.  Theol. Sufficient grace: see GRACE sb. 11 b.

1728.  Chambers Cycl., s.v. Grace, Grace … is Efficacious, or Efficient, when it has the Effect; and Sufficient when it has it not, tho’ it might have had it.

1898.  A. G. Mortimer, Cath. Faith & Practice, I. 120. Exciting grace regarded in its result is called (1) Sufficient and (2) Efficient grace.

  c.  Modern Philos. (Principle or law of) sufficient reason: see quot. 1717.

  This is a translation of Leibnitz’s ‘raison suffisante’ (Monadologie, 1714, §§ 31, 32), for which he had previously suggested ‘raison déterminante’ (Réfl. sur le livre de Hobbes, 1710); he may have been influenced in his final selection of the adj. by the use of sufficient cause in.

1656.  Hobbes, Quest. conc. Liberty, Necessity & Chance, 294. I hold that to be a sufficient cause to which nothing is wanting that is needful to the producing of the effect. The same is also a necessary cause.

1717.  S. Clarke, trans. Leibnitz’s 2nd Paper, in Coll. Papers, 21. In order to proceed from Mathematicks to Natural Philosophy, another Principle is requisite, as I have observed in my Theodicæa: I mean, the Principle of a sufficient Reason, viz. that nothing happens without a Reason why it should be so rather than otherwise. Ibid. (trans. 5th Paper), 207. The Principle of the Want of a sufficient Reason does alone drive away all these Spectres of Imagination.

1838.  De Morgan, Ess. Probab., 10. Many of our conclusions are derived from this principle, which is called in mathematics the want of sufficient reason.

1839.  Penny Cycl., XIII. 398/2. The fundamental principles of all reasoning, namely, the principle of contradiction and the law of sufficient reason. Ibid., 390/1. This adjustment of the monads was in accordance with certain sufficient reasons in each monad…; this sufficient reason was their comparative perfection.

1857.  Maurice, Mor. & Met. Philos., IV. viii. § 72. 516. The sufficient reason must be found seeing it is implied in all demonstrations.

  † 3.  Qualified by talent or ability; competent, capable, able. Obs.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1067, Dido. That he was lyk a knyght, And sufficiaunt [v.rr. suffisa(u)nt] of persone & of mygh[t].

1424.  Cov. Leet Bk., 85. One or ij sufficiante men to ouerse the Collectours.

1576.  Abp. Grindal, Let. Ld. Burleigh, in Rem. (1843), 360. I pray your lordship’s help that Mr Redmayn … may be archdeacon of Canterbury. He is a very sufficient man.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 332. Where they were by sufficient teachers, first instructed in the principles of the Mahometan religion.

1659.  Rushw., Hist. Coll., I. 605. A sufficient preaching Minister shall be provided … to serve the Cure.

1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 404. Whom shall we send In search of this new world, whom shall we find Sufficient?

1719.  London & Wise, Compl. Gard., p. xiii. Those that … have a sufficient Gardener.

1817.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. v. 497. Sir Eyre Coote should be requested to take upon himself, as alone sufficient, the task [etc.].

  † b.  Const. to, for (a function, work), to do something. Obs.

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we ben sufficient [L. sufficientes, Gr. ἰκανοι] for to thenke ony thing of vs.

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 295. To holdyn offyse þat a man is noȝt suffycyent to.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 23. He was nat sufficiand to governe the office.

1598[?].  in Lismore Papers, Ser. II. (1887), I. 14. A Master of Artes, and euery waie uery sufficient to be the Warden.

1611.  Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 6. Who had bene so sufficient for this worke as the Apostles or Apostolike men?

1639.  S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 69. Sufficient to performe their huswifery.

1667.  Milton, P. L., III. 99. I made him just and right, Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.

  † 4.  Of persons: Of adequate means or wealth; having a competence, substantial, well-to-do; hence, qualified by means or status for an office or duty. (Const. of = in respect of; to with inf.) Obs.

1436.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 501/2. The more sufficient that men be of liflode … ye more [etc.].

c. 1482.  in Cal. Proc. Chanc. Q. Eliz. (1830), II. Pref. 63. The same Robert is not sufficient to pay and content the said arrerages.

1590.  Payne, Brief Descr. Ireland (1841), 11. [He] hath gotten more sufficient tennauntes into his said countrie then any other two.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 95. Some sufficient honest witnesses.

1655.  R. Younge, Charge agst. Drunkards, 2. More is thrown out of one swines nose, and mouth, and guts, then would maintein five sufficient families.

c. 1672.  Wood, Life (O.H.S.), I. 178. An honest and sufficient farmer.

1678.  Penn, in Life, Wks. 1782, I. p. lxiv. How many sufficient and trading families are reduced to great poverty by it. Ibid. (1679), Addr. Prot., II. 226. Many, once sufficient, are expos’d to Charity.

1782.  Eliz. Blower, Geo. Bateman, II. 157. A great many very sufficient people.

  † 5.  Of things: Of adequate quality; of a good standard; substantial; in good condition. Obs.

1473.  Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 165. ij bollis of hors corn sufficiand.

1490.  Munim. de Melros (Bann. Club), 600. Of þe quhilk viij chalder five salbe of gud sufficient qwheit.

1507.  Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 209/2. Sufficiand merchand gudis.

1682.  in Thanes of Cawdor (Spald. Club), 360. Guid and sufficient work built according to airt. Ibid. (1699), 393. Ane sufficient stair caise.

c. 1800.  Tennant, in Southey’s Comm.-pl. Bk., Ser. II. (1849), 422. Their enlargement gradually loosens and shatters the most sufficient buildings.

[1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. IV. iv. Making shoes,—one may hope, in a sufficient manner.)

  6.  In full, sufficient for († to) oneself: = SELF-SUFFICIENT 1.

  1388.  Wyclif, Prov. xii. 9. A pore man, and sufficient to him silf.

1850.  Newman, Diffic. Anglic., I. (1891), 21. The English people is sufficient for itself.

1872.  Ruskin, Eagle’s N., § 77. The first order of Charity is to be sufficient for thyself.

  1383.  Wyclif, Phil. iv. 11. I haue lerud, in whiche thingis I am, sufficient [L. sufficiens, Gr. αὐτάρκης] for to be.

1502.  Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, III. xxiii. (1893), 216. Thou, good lorde, amonge all thinges art best, hyest, moost mighty & moost sufficient.

  † 7.  = SELF-SUFFICIENT 2. Obs.

1620.  Fletcher, Chances, V. ii. Thou art the most sufficient, (I’le say for thee) Not to believe a thing.

1671.  Temple, Lett. to J. Temple, Wks. 1731, II. 246. Sufficient and confident that no Endeavours can break the Measures between us and Holland.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 51, ¶ 5. A sufficient self-conceited Coxcomb.

1709.  Cibber, Rival Fools, III. The dull Stupidity of a sufficient Fool!

  † B.  adv. = SUFFICIENTLY. Obs.

1509.  Hawes, Conv. Swearers, xliv. Am not I wounded for the suffycyent?

1560.  Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours (1588), 15 b. A triangle battaile, may be always sufficient able to breake al maner of foure square battailes.

1592.  Arden of Feversham, I. i. I haue talkt sufficient.

1625.  Fletcher & Shirley, Nt. Walker, III. i. Was I not late in my unhappy marriage, Sufficient miserable?

1762.  Falconer, Shipwr., II. 146. When down sufficient, they securely brace [the yard].

1826.  W. A. Miles, Deverel Barrow, 17. When it takes a sufficient southerly course to admit of avoiding the mound.

  C.  sb. (This is prob. in origin partly a reduced form of sufficiante, SUFFICIENTY.)

  † 1.  The quality or condition of being sufficient; sufficiency. Obs.

a. 1450.  Lett. Marg. Anjou & Bp. Beckington (Camden), 140. His suffisiant of cunnyng and habilite thereto.

1600.  Sir W. Cornwallis, Ess., I. xix. I know not much of want, neither desire I Riches: I am borne to sufficient.

  2.  A sufficient quantity or supply; sufficient means; enough.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XX. xvii. 828. For haue I suffycyaunt that may longe to my person I wylle aske none other ryche araye.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. 60 b. They founde reasonably sufficyent therof.

1526.  Tindale, 1 Tim. v. 16. Let not the congregacion be charged: that hytt maye have sufficient for them that are widdowes in dede.

1587.  Mirr. Mag., Porrex, xii. Sufficient here is sayd to warne the wise.

1807–8.  W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 155. I have not, nor perhaps ever shall acquire, sufficient of the philosophic policy of this government.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 498. Whether sufficient appeared by the special verdict in this case, to prevent the lessor of the plaintiff … from recovering in the ejectment?

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. ii. 14. We saw sufficient to account for the noise.