Incompetence, in-com-pe-ten-çỹ, s

[Fr. incompétence; Sp.in comp eten cia.] I. Ord . Lang .: The quality or state of being in competent; want of competence, qualification, or adequate ability; incapacity, inadequacy; inability physical, moral, or intellectual. "And therefore no incompetence of mine Could do them wrong." Words worth: Excursion, bk. viii. IMG:content-1562.png:[blocks in formation] in-com-pě-tent, a . [Fr., from Lat. incompe tens ; Ger. inkompetent ; Sp. & Ital. incompetente .] 1. Not competent; lacking adequate power, means, capacity, or qualifications to perform any act or duties; incapable, unfit. "Incompetent as he was, he bore a commi ion which gave him military rank in Scotland next to Dundee."Macaulay: Hist . Eng ., ch. xii. 2. Wanting legal or constitutional fitne or qualification; not permi ible, not admi ible; as, an incompetent witne , an incompetent defense. 3. Inadequate, insufficient. "By this means all the motion in the universe must proceed from external impulse alone-an incompetent cause for the formation of a world." - Bentley. (Todd.) in-com-pě-tent-lý, adv . [Eng. incompetent ; -ly . In an incompetent manner; inadequately, insufficiently.