Hypertext Webster Gateway: "deficient"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Deficient \De*fi"cient\, a. [L. deficiens, -entis, p. pr. of
deficere to be wanting. See {Defect}.]
Wanting, to make up completeness; wanting, as regards a
requirement; not sufficient; inadequate; defective;
imperfect; incomplete; lacking; as, deficient parts;
deficient estate; deficient strength; deficient in judgment.
The style was indeed deficient in ease and variety.
--Macaulay.
{Deficient number}. (Arith.) See under {Abundant}. --
{De*fi"cient-ly}, adv.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
deficient
adj 1: inadequate in amount or degree; "a deficient education";
"deficient in common sense"; "lacking in stamina";
"tested and found wanting" [syn: {lacking(p)}, {wanting(p)}]
2: of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement;
"insufficient funds" [syn: {insufficient}] [ant: {sufficient}]
3: falling short of some prescribed norm; "substandard housing"
[syn: {inferior}, {substandard}]
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