He had qualified himself for municipal office by
taking the oaths to the sovereigns in possession.
--Macaulay.
2. To give individual quality to; to modulate; to vary; to
regulate.
It hath no larynx . . . to qualify the sound. --Sir
T. Browne.
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.
4. Hence, to soften; to abate; to diminish; to assuage; to
reduce the strength of, as liquors.
I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire, But
qualify the fire's extreme rage. --Shak.
5. To soothe; to cure; -- said of persons. [Obs.]
In short space he has them qualified. --Spenser.
Syn: To fit; equip; prepare; adapt; capacitate; enable;
modify; soften; restrict; restrain; temper.