rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: petere
Latin

petere

seek, aim at; request

Forms

  • pet-
  • petit- — Latin stem of the form meaning ‘sought’ or ‘requested.’

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *pet-, ‘fly; rush.’

Note

An older sense of rushing toward something developed into seeking it.

5 / 13
White woman plumber efficiently repairs leaking pipe under sink, dry clean joint and organized tools show adequate practical skill.
noun

competency

KAHM-pih-tun-see/ˈkɑːmpɪtənsi/

Sufficient ability to carry out a particular task.

Etymology
comLatinwith, together; sometimes thoroughly
+petLatinseek, aim at; request
+encyLatina state or quality

The “together” and “seek” elements underlie a verb whose meanings included agreeing or being qualified. Competency first expressed having enough to meet life's needs, then extended sufficiency to the qualifications needed for a task.

Full entry

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