competence
UK[ˈkɒmpɪtəns]US[ˈkɑːmpɪtəns]
n
the ability to do something well or effectively
n
the legal authority of a court or other body to deal with a particular matter
Morpheme Breakdown
com
pet
ence
com
together
pet
seek
ence
noun suffix
Etymology
the word competence originates from the latin verb 'competere', which is composed of 'com-' (together) and 'petere' (to seek, to strive). its original sense was 'to come together, agree, be suitable', reflecting the idea of things meeting or being sufficient for a purpose. through french influence, the meaning evolved in english to focus on the state of being adequately qualified or capable, emphasizing the quality resulting from one's striving or sufficiency. the modern abstract meaning of 'ability' or 'legal authority' thus logically stems from this core concept of being suitably matched or sufficient for a task or role.
Analysis
Structure: com (together) + pet (seek) + ence (noun suffix)
- com: a latin prefix meaning 'together', 'with', or 'jointly'. it functions as an intensifier in this word.
- pet: from latin 'petere', meaning 'to seek', 'to aim at', or 'to strive for'. it is the core root conveying the sense of directed effort.
- ence: a latin-derived noun suffix (from '-entia') indicating a state, quality, or condition.
Examples
her technical competence is highly valued by the engineering team.
the case falls outside the competence of this local council.
he demonstrated great competence in handling the complex negotiation.