Hypertext Webster Gateway: "qualify"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Qualify \Qual"i*fy\, v. i.
1. To be or become qualified; to be fit, as for an office or
employment.
2. To obtain legal power or capacity by taking the oath, or
complying with the forms required, on assuming an office.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Qualify \Qual"i*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Qualified}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Qualifying}.] [F. qualifier, LL. qualificare, fr. L.
qualis how constituted, as + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See
{Quality}, and {-Fy}.]
1. To make such as is required; to give added or requisite
qualities to; to fit, as for a place, office, occupation,
or character; to furnish with the knowledge, skill, or
other accomplishment necessary for a purpose; to make
capable, as of an employment or privilege; to supply with
legal power or capacity.
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
qualify
v 1: prove capable or fit; meet requirements [syn: {measure up}]
2: pronounce fit; "She was qualified to run the marathon" [ant:
{disqualify}]
3: make more specific; "qualify these remarks" [syn: {restrict}]
4: make fit or prepared; "Your education qualifies you for this
job" [syn: {dispose}] [ant: {disqualify}]
5: specify as a condition; "The will stipulates that she can
live in the house for the rest of her life" [syn: {stipulate},
{condition}, {specify}]
6: describe the qualities or peculiarities of; "You can
characterize his behavior as that of an egotist"; "This
poem can be characterized as a lament for a dead lover"
[syn: {characterize}, {characterise}]
7: (grammar) add a modifier to a constituent [syn: {modify}]
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