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QUALIFY.
1549 LATIMER tth Serm. Edw. /'/ (Arb.)
be/. 107 S. Paule
in nys epistle qualifyeth a bishop, and saith that he must be
. .apte to teache and to confute all maner of false doctryne.
1653 H. COGAN tr. Pluto's Trav. xii. 37, I will favor thee
as a Vassal, and not as a brother, as thou qualifies! thyself.
1684 J. PETER Siege Vienna 21 Two of the Eldest Colonels
were qualified with a Title between a Major General and a
*
Colonel. 1823 BYRON yuan x. Ixxxi, The Devil's drawing-
room ', As some have qualified that wondrous place. 1826
Blackw. blag. XX. 77 The propositions referred to the
theologians have been qualified as heretical. 1873 HROWN-
ING Red Cott. Nt.-cap 253 Madame Muhlhausen, whom
good taste forbids We qualify as do these documents.
b. Gram. Of an adj. : To express some quality
belonging to (a noun). Of an adv. : To modify.
[1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Potsie Hi. xvu. (Arb.) 193 Sometimes
wordes suffered to go single, do giue greater sence
and grace then words qualUfied by attributions do.] 1837
M. GREEN Engl. Gramm. 14 [Adjectives] are added to nouns
to define, qualify, describe, or limit the signification of the
noun. 1887 ROGET Introd, Old French 176 [The Adjective]
qualifying two or more Substantives. 1888 H. A.
,
358 The vther half [of the forfeited goods] to be givin to
him who dilates the recepteris, and qualefeis the samen.
1776 Lp. THURLOW in BoswelCs Johnson (1848) App. 817/2
If the individual could qualify a wrong, and a damage
arising from it.
II. To modify in some respect.
7. To modify (a statement, opinion, etc.) by any
VOL. VIII.
17
limitation or reservation ; to make less strong or
positive.
1533 MORE Apol. xxvii. Wks. 893/2 He hathe circumspectly
. . qualyfyed and modered hys tale wyth thys woord (all).
1551 PRINCESS MARY in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 177 The
promise made. .by your Majesties counsell. .although they
seeme now to quallefye and deny the thing, a 1661 FULLER
Worthies (1840) III. 8 Whilst a prince he was undutiful to
his father ; or to qualify the matter, over dutiful to his
mother, whose domestic quarrels he always espoused, a. 1731
ATTERBURY (J.), My proposition I have qualified with the
word, often ; thereby malting allowance [etc.]. 1790 BURKE
Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 296 To observe whether . . 1 might not find
reasons to change or to qualify some of my first sentiments.
iSssPREScoTT Philip II) i. viii. (1857) H^ Elizabeth received
the offer of Philip's hand, qualified as It was, in the most
gracious manner. 1883 Contemp. Rev. XLIII. 49 An
avowal, which he qualifies by a subtle after-thought.
absol. 1838 LYTTON Alice xi. v, The surgeon .. began to
STRONG tr. Pants Princ. Hist. Lang. 424 [The adjective]
bears the same relation to the substantive as an adverb to
the adjective which it qualifies.
f 2. To impart a certain quality to (a thing) to ;
make (a thing) what it is. Obs.
1592 GREENE Upst. Courtier in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 221
Is . . not rather true nobility a mind excellently qualified with
rare vertues? 1609 BIBLE (Douay) Gen. Comm., Then shal
the bodies be qualified according to the state of the soules,
happie or miserable for ever. 1645 QUARLES Sol. Recant.
in. 71 But thou hast tainted that immortall breath, Which
qualifi'd thy life, and made thee free Of heav'n and earth.
a 1677 HALE Prim. Orig. Man. iv. vi. 344 The Divine Will,
determined or qualified (if we may use that improper word)
with the highest .. Wisdom and Power.
T" b. absol. To bring it about that. Obs.
a 1670 RACKET Abp. Williams \. (1692) 60 It qualified
also, that no detection could be made, .that he bought this
greatness.
3. To invest (a person) with proper or essential
qualities or accomplishments {for being something).
Also reft.
1581 MULCASTER Positions xxxvi. (1887) 134 Set to schoole,
to qualifie themselues, to learne how to be religious. 1683
MOXON Mech. Exerc.^ Printing i, A Typographer ought
to be equally qualified with all the Sciences that becomes
an Architect. 1711 W. SUTHERLAND Shipbnild. Assist. 22
Those . . Properties will qualify a Man for a compleat
Architect. '^1782 COWPER Parrot 11 To qualify him more
at large, And make him quite a wit.
b. To make fit or competent for doing (or to do)
something, or/or some sphere of action, existence,
etc. Chiefly reft.
1665 BOYLE Occas. Refl. vi. iv. (1848) 353 He whose parts
are too mean to qualifie him to govern others. 1712 Sped.
No. 524 F 5 To refresh and otherwise qualify themselves for
their journey. 1749 FIELDING Tom Jones vi. iii, Moderation
. .can qualify us to taste many pleasures. 1817 SCOTT Rob
Royx\\ t Qualifying myself for my new calling. 1852 DICKENS
Bleak Ho. xxxviii, I am qualifying myself to give lessons.
1873 HAMERTON Intell. Life in. i. (1875) 77 Men are qualified
for their work by knowledge.
absol. 174* YOUNG Nt. Th. ix, 575 That strength, Which
best may qualify for final joy.
4. To make legally capable ; to endow with legal
power or capacity ; to give a recognized status to
(a person).
1583 STUBBES Anat. Abtts. it. (1882) 113 Would God all
Ecclesiastical persons . . would nowe . . quallifie themselues,
shewe obedience to Princes lawes. 1667 PEPYS Diary (1879)
IV. 350 Is made one of the Duke's Chaplains, which qualifies
him for two livings. 1767 BLACKSTONE Cotnm. II. 418 These
game laws ., do indeed qualify nobody, except . . a gamekeeper,
to kill game. 1862 MERIVALE Rom. Enip. (1865) IV.
xxxvii. 291 He qualified others, by adding to their fortunes
from his own bounty. 1889 Pall Mail G. 27 June 5/1
A Royat Charter enabling it to 'qualify* nurses as doctors
are 'qualified'.
b. spec, by the administration of an oath. U. S.
[1723 A ct ofPennsylvania^ Every brewer . . shall be quali fied
by oath, .that he will not use any molasses, etc.] 1798 in
Dallas Atner. Law Rep. II. 100 The court said they would
order the jury to be qualified. 1800 M. CUTLER in Lift, etc.
(1888) II. 37 He [the Governor of Mass.] met the two Houses
at 12, and was qualified.
5. intr. (for reft.} To make oneself competent
for something, or capable of holding some office,
exercising some function, etc., by fulfilling some
necessary condition ; spec, by taking an oath, and
hence U.S. : To make oath, to swear to something
(Bartlett, 1848).
11588 TARLTON Jests (1844) p. xxv, Presently he can
Qualifie for a mule or a mare, Or for an Alderman. 1790
BURKE Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 384 All the ministers of state must
qualify, and take this test. 1825 C R. H. in Hone Everyday
Bk. 1. 1334 His lordship goes to church to qualify. 1849
MACAULAY Hist. Eng. vi. II. 27 apologize to qualify.
8. To moderate or mitigate, so as to reduce to
a more satisfactory or normal condition ; esp. to
render less violent, severe or unpleasant to lessen
;
He could not legally continue
to employ officers who refused to qualify. 1891 Lain
Reports, Weekly Notes 118/1 It was his duty to qualify for
the office of director by taking forty shares.
f6. trans. Sc. Law. To establish by evidence. Obs.
the force or effect of (something disagreeable).
Extremely common in the i6-i7thc., with a great variety
of objects ; now somewhat rare in comparison with 12 b.
1543-4 Act 35 Hen. K//7, c. 5 The greate peril and
dangler of the kynges majesties subiectes, if the ?ame statute
shulde not . . be tempered qualified or refourmed. 1547
BOORDE Brev. Health 170 Qualyfie the heate of the Lyuer
. . with the confection of Acetose. 1578 T. N. tr. Conq. W.
India 229 Our men stoode in . . great perill if this war and
mutenie had not soone bene qualified. 1608 WILLRT/^^xapla, Exod. 688 The incense was. .burned, .to qualifie the smell
..from the sacrifices of flesh. 1648 MARKHAM Honscw.
Gard, HI. viii. (1668) 68 Camomile . . is sweet smelling,
qualifying head-ach. 1664 H. POWER Exp. Philos. in.
So
Co
Civility of the Turks does in some measure qualify the
Hardship of those who are confin'd Prisoners in tnat Castle.
1767 BLACKSTONE Comm. II. 147 Though they still are held
at the will of the lord,., yet that will is qualified, restrained,
and limited. 18*7 SCOTT Highl. Widow v, A voice in which
the authority of tne mother was qualified by her tenderness.
1859 BAILEY Festus v, Qualifying every line which vice . .
writes on the brow. 1856 R. A. VAUGHAN Mystics (1860)
I.v. i. 1 16 His sincere piety, his
large heart,, .always qualify,
and seem sometimes to redeem, his errors.
t b. To make less wrong or reprehensible. Obs.
1749 FIELDING Tom Jones xin. xii, The frame of her mind
was too delicate to bear the thought of having been guilty
of a falsehood, however qualified by circumstances. 1776
PAINE COM. Sense 76 It is. .the invasion of our country. .
which conscientiously qualifies the use of arms.
\ c. To make proportionate to ; to reduce to.
Obs. rare.
1548 UDALL, etc. Erasni. Par. Luke i. (R.), The Highest
. .tempering and qualifying
his infinite power and vertue to
the measure and capacitie of mannes nature. \6o+ Nottingham
Rec. IV, 272, 20 U. fyne was ymposed. .which fyne was
afterwardes . .
cjualefied to iuj Ii. 1641 MILTON Reform, ii.
43 How to qualifie, and mould the sufferance and subjection
of the people to the length of that foot that is to tread on
their necks.
t 9. To appease, calm, pacify (a person). Obs.
^1540 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden No. 29) 210
Withowt much adoe they began to mollyfy hir .. Whan the
quene was thus qualyfyed [etc.]. 1579-80 NORTH Plutarch
(1676) 488 Sertonus. .did qualifie him the best he could, and
made him more mild and tractable. - 1617 MIDDLETON &
ROWLEY Fair Quarrel iv. i, When you have left him in
a chafe, then 1 11 qualify the rascal. 1679 Trials Greet/,
Berry, $c. 16 You being a Justice of the Peace may qualifie
them [two men fighting].
flO. To bring into, or keep in, a proper condition
; to control, regulate, modulate. Obs.
1579 LANGHAM Card. Health (1633) 624 The decoction of the
roots.. doth qualifie the Liuer. 1606 SHAKS. Tr. $ Cr. n.
ii. nS Is your blood So madly hot, that no discourse of
reason. .Can qualifie the same? 1647 N. BACON Disc. Gwt.
Eng. i. xvi. (1739) 30 This Election was qualified under
a stipulation or covenant. iGWPv.wwuGiiardtan.'s Instruct.
(1807) J 5 The practice of these Rules will help qualifie a
Life of Action such as yours must be.
11. To modify the strength or flavour of (a liquid).
1591 NASHE Prognostication Wks. 1883-4 II. 152 A Cuppe
of Sack, . . so qualified with Suger, mat they proue not
rewmatick. 1633 T. ADAMS Exp. 2 Peter ii. 13 Poison may
be qualified, ancf become medicinal. 1671 tr. Frej'ns' Voy.
Mauritania 43 Having tasted the . . water, we mixed it with
a little Aqua vitae, which we had brought with us instead
of Wine, to qualifie it. 1748 SMOLLETT Rod. Rand. Ivi,
The Squire ..called for his tea, which he drank ..qualified
with brandy, 1821 BYRON Jnatt iv. liii, Tea and coffee
leave us much more serious, Unless when qualified with
thee, Cogniacl 1840 DICKENS Barn. Radge xlv, [HeJ
qualified nis mug of water with a plentiful infusion of the
liquor.
fig. 1697 DRYDEN Ess. Georgics jn Virgil (1721) I. 199
Greek, .rightly mixt and qualified with the Doric Dialect.
12. f a. To affect (a person or thing) injuriously.
Const, with. Obs. b. To abate or diminish (something
good) ; to make less perfect
or complete.
1584 R. SCOT Discov. Witckcr. HI. xv.
(1886) 50 Foure old
witches, who with their charms so qualified the Danes as
they were thereby disabled. i6o SHAKS. Ham. iv. vii. 114
was conquered and taken prisoner. 1644 BULWER Chiron
52 The slanders by heartily wish their Hands qualified with
some Chiragracall prohibition. 1860 TYNDALL Glac. I.
xxvii. 209 Thoughts which tended to qualify the pleasure.
1870 DICKENS E. Drood viii, We had better not qualify our
good understanding.
QUALITY.
t 13. intr. To qualify on, to submit
quietly to.
To qualify with, to come to terms with. Obs.
1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. xxxiii. 230 What a slave
had I been in spirit, could I have qualified on such villainous
treatment.
1797-1803 S. & HT. LEE Cantert. T. V. 494
He. .qualifies with any passion which it is vicious to indulge.
Qualifying (kwg-lifaiiirj),
vbl. sb.
[f. prec. +
-mo 1 The .] action of the vb. . CQUALIFY,
in various
senses.
1574 R. SCOT Hop Card. (1578) Epistle, To deuise argument
of priuate profit, to the qualifying of your charges.
1610 GUILLIM Heraldry in. vit. (1660) 135 The qualifying
and allaying of the scorching heat of burning Agues. 1748
RICHARDSON Clarissa. (1811) I. 124, I once thought a little
among
Iualifying
such violent spirits was not amiss. 1794
. HUTTON fkilos. Light, etc. 14 To suppose us knowing
eat by any other means, besides its effect in the qualifying
of bodies.
Qualifying (kwg-lifaiiip),///. a.
[f. as prec.
+ -ING-.] That qualifies,
in senses of the vb.
1606 SHAKS. Tr.