In-cŏm'pe-tent, a.
a. [Prefix in, not, and competent; Fr. incompétent, Sp. & It. incompetente, Lat. incompetens.]
Sense 1. Not competent; wanting in adequate strength, power, capacity, means, qualifications, or the like; incapable; unable; inadequate. “False and incompetent pretexts.” Bacon. “Incompetent to perform the duties of the place.” Macaulay.
Sense 2. Wanting the legal or constitutional qualifications; as, a person wanting in religious belief is an incompetent witness in a court of law or equity.
Sense 3. Not lying within one’s competency, capacity, or authorized power; unfit.
It is incompetent for the defendant to make this defense. Mass. Rep.
Synonyms— Incapable; unable; inadequate; insufficient; unfit; improper. — INCOMPETENT, INCAPABLE. Incompetent is a relative term, denoting a want of the requisite qualifications for performing a given act, service, &c.; incapable is absolute in its meaning, denoting want of power, either natural or moral. We speak of a man as incompetent to a certain task, of an incompetent judge, &c. We say of an idiot, that he is incapable of learning to read; and of a man distinguished for his honor, that he is incapable of a mean action.