[ad.e.quate] adj [L adaequatus, pp. of adaequare to make equal, fr. ad- + aequare to equal--more at equable] (ca. 1617) 1: sufficient for a specific requirement "~ taxation of goods"; also: barely sufficient or satisfactory "her first performance was merely ~"
2: lawfully and reasonably sufficient syn see sufficient -- ad.e.quate.ly adv -- ad.e.quate.ness n