\In*com"pe*tent\, a. [L. incompetens: cf. F.
incomp['e]tent. See {In-} not, and {Competent}.]
1. Not competent; wanting in adequate strength, power,
   capacity, means, qualifications, or the like; incapable;
   unable; inadequate; unfit.
         Incompetent to perform the duties of the place.
                                               --Macaulay.
2. (Law) Wanting the legal or constitutional qualifications;
   inadmissible; as, a person professedly wanting in
   religious belief is an incompetent witness in a court of
   law or equity; incompetent evidence.
         Richard III. had a resolution, out of hatred to his
         brethren, to disable their issues, upon false and
         incompetent pretexts, the one of attainder, the
         other of illegitimation.              --Bacon.
3. Not lying within one's competency, capacity, or authorized
   power; not permissible.
Syn: Incapable; unable; inadequate; insufficient;
     inefficient; disqualified; unfit; improper.
Usage: {Incompetent}, {Incapable}. Incompetent is a relative
       term, denoting a want of the requisite qualifications
       for performing a given act, service, etc.; incapable
       is absolute in its meaning, denoting want of power,
       either natural or moral. We speak of a man as
       incompetent to a certain task, of an incompetent
       judge, etc. We say of an idiot that he is incapable of
       learning to read; and of a man distinguished for his
       honor, that he is incapable of a mean action.