I. -nt adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin sufficient-, sufficiens, from present participle of sufficere to suffice
1. : marked by quantity, scope, power, or quality to meet with the demands, wants, or needs of a situation or of a proposed use or end
an ample sum, one sufficient to supply those wants of hers — Thomas Hardy
have not sufficient information to state the exact damage — F.D.Roosevelt
2. archaic : adequately qualified or competent
3. obsolete
a. : excessively self-confident
b. : wealthy , well-to-do
4. archaic : well-made : substantial
5. of a bid in bridge : higher in rank than the bid over which it is made
Synonyms:
enough , adequate , competent : sufficient is likely to refer to a quantity or scope that meets the demands of a specific situation
like ninety-nine percent of those who are taught the classics, I never acquired sufficient proficiency to read them with pleasure — Bertrand Russell
a pinch from his snuffbox was an honor sufficient to turn the head of a young enthusiast — T.B.Macaulay
enough , often placed after the noun it modifies, as in men enough, money enough, is less exact and more approximate than sufficient in its suggestion
my country! and 'tis joy enough and pride for one hour's perfect bliss to tread the grass of England once again — William Wordsworth
adequate may suggest barely meeting a requirement, with nothing excessive or ample remaining
vocabulary … was perfectly adequate to the clear and forceful statement of his ideas — Aldous Huxley
adequate is wider in its sphere of use than sufficient or enough
you can get along quite comfortably if you're just adequate, but it's different with an artist — W.S.Maugham
competent , usually not used in reference to counting or physical measurement like others in this set, may be entirely complimentary or may imply some of the slighting suggestion of adequate
her competent steely mind never rested — Rebecca West
competent narrative or exposition, skilled but not beautiful or artistic writing such as deserves the name of literature — Samuel Alexander
II. noun
( -s )
: sufficiency , enough
ate till he had sufficient