QUALIFY

verb (-fied; -fying) Etymology: Middle French qualifier, from Medieval Latin qualificare, from Latin qualis Date: 1533 transitive verb 1. to reduce from a general to a particular or restricted form ; modify , to make less harsh or strict ; moderate , to alter the strength or flavor of, to limit or modify the meaning of (as a noun), to characterize by naming an attribute ; describe , 3. to fit by training, skill, or ability for a special purpose, b. to declare competent or adequate ; certify , to invest with legal capacity ; license , intransitive verb to be or become fit (as for an office) ; meet the required standard, to acquire legal or competent power or capacity , 3. to exhibit a required degree of ability in a preliminary contest , to shoot well enough to earn a marksmanship badge