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   Qual·i·fy

   /ˈkwäləˌfī/

   

   verb

   • 1. be entitled to a particular benefit or privilege by fulfilling a necessary condition: "they do not qualify for compensation payments" Similar be eligiblemeet the requirementsbe entitled tobe allowedbe permitted
   • ▪ become eligible for a competition or its final rounds, by reaching a certain standard or defeating a competitor: "he failed to qualify for the Olympic team"
   • ▪ be or make properly entitled to be classed in a particular way: "he qualifies as a genuine political refugee" Similar countbe countedbe consideredbe designatedbe characterizablebe eligiblemeet the requirements of
   • 2. become officially recognized as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity by satisfying the relevant conditions or requirements, typically by undertaking a course of study and passing examinations: "I've only just qualified" Similar gain qualificationsgain certificationbe certifiedbe licensedbe authorizedpassgraduatemake the gradesucceedget throughcome through with flying colorspass muster
   • ▪ officially recognize or establish (someone) as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity: "the courses qualify you as an instructor of the sport" Similar authorizeallowpermitlicenseempowerfitequippreparearmmake readytrainupskilleducatecoachteachOpposite disqualify
   • ▪ make (someone) competent or knowledgeable enough to do something: "I'm not qualified to write on the subject"
   • 3. make (a statement or assertion) less absolute; add reservations to: "she felt obliged to qualify her first short answer" Similar countbe countedbe consideredbe designatedbe characterizablebe eligiblemeet the requirements ofmodifylimitmake conditionalrestrictadd reservations toadd tomake additions toadd a rider tomoderatetempersoftentone downmodulatemitigatereducelessendecreasediminishlowerabate
   • ▪ make (something extreme or undesirable) less severe or extreme: archaic "his sincere piety and his large heart always qualify his errors"
   • ▪ alter the strength or flavor of (something, especially a liquid): archaic "he qualified his mug of water with a plentiful infusion of the liquor"
   • 4. (of a word or phrase) attribute a quality to (another word, especially a preceding noun).
   • ▪ attribute a specified quality to something; describe something as: archaic "the propositions have been qualified as heretical"

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘describe in a particular way’): from French qualifier, from medieval Latin qualificare, from Latin qualis ‘of what kind, of such a kind’ (see quality).

   Derivatives

   • 1. qualifiable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 22

   • Q

     10

   • U

     1

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

   • I

     1

   • F

     4

   • Y

     4

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