qual·i·fy

[kwol-uh-fahy] verb, qual·i·fied, qual·i·fy·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to provide with proper or necessary skills, knowledge, credentials, etc.; make competent: to qualify oneself for a job.
2.
to modify or limit in some way; make less strong or positive: to qualify an endorsement.
3.
Grammar. to modify.
4.
to make less violent, severe, or unpleasant; moderate; mitigate.
5.
to attribute some quality or qualities to; characterize, call, or name: She cannot qualify his attitude as either rational or irrational.
6.
to modify or alter the flavor or strength of: He qualified his coffee with a few drops of brandy.
7.
Law. to certify as legally competent.
verb (used without object)
8.
to be fitted or competent for something.
9.
to get authority, license, power, etc., as by fulfilling required conditions, taking an oath, etc.
10.
Sports. to demonstrate the required ability in an initial or preliminary contest: He qualified in the trials.
11.
to fire a rifle or pistol on a target range for a score high enough to achieve a rating of marksman, sharpshooter, or expert.
12.
Military. to pass a practical test in gunnery.
13.
Law. to perform the actions necessary to acquire legal power or capacity: By filing a bond and taking an oath he qualified as executor.
00:10
Qualify is a GRE word you need to know.
So is benign. Does it mean:
having a kindly disposition; gracious:
the undue use of exaggeration or display in writing or speech; bombast

Origin:
1525–35; < Medieval Latin quālificāre, equivalent to Latin quāl(is) of what sort + -ificāre -ify

qual·i·fi·ca·to·ry [kwol-uh-fi-kuh-tawr-ree, -tohr-ee] , adjective
qual·i·fy·ing·ly, adverb
mis·qual·i·fy, verb, mis·qual·i·fied, mis·qual·i·fy·ing.
non·qual·i·fy·ing, adjective
o·ver·qual·i·fy, verb, o·ver·qual·i·fied, o·ver·qual·i·fy·ing.
pre·qual·i·fy, verb, pre·qual·i·fied, pre·qual·i·fy·ing.
re·qual·i·fy, verb, re·qual·i·fied, re·qual·i·fy·ing.
su·per·qual·i·fy, verb, su·per·qual·i·fied, su·per·qual·i·fy·ing.
un·qual·i·fy·ing, adjective
un·qual·i·fy·ing·ly, adverb
un·re·qual·i·fied, adjective


1. fit, suit, adapt, prepare, equip. 2. narrow, restrict. See modify. 4. meliorate, soften, temper, reduce, diminish. 5. designate, label.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
qualify (ˈkwɒlɪˌfaɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb , -fies, -fying, -fied
1.  to provide or be provided with the abilities or attributes necessary for a task, office, duty, etc: his degree qualifies him for the job; he qualifies for the job, but would he do it well?
2.  (tr) to make less strong, harsh, or violent; moderate or restrict
3.  (tr) to modify or change the strength or flavour of
4.  (tr) grammar another word for modify
5.  (tr) to attribute a quality to; characterize
6.  (intr) to progress to the final stages of a competition, as by winning preliminary contests
 
[C16: from Old French qualifier, from Medieval Latin quālificāre to characterize, from Latin quālis of what kind + facere to make]
 
'qualifiable
 
adj
 
qualificatory
 
adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

qualify
1465, "to invest with a quality," from M.L. qualificare "attribute a quality to," from L. qualis "of what sort" + facere "to make" (see factitious). Sense of "be fit for a job" first appeared 1588. Qualification in the sense of "limitation, restriction" is from 1543.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Because the scheme makes it so easy to distinguish products that qualify for
  the various point levels.
Governments of left and right showed impressive determination to qualify for
  the club.
If you are lucky, something will pop up that begins to qualify on both counts.
If you do not qualify for benefits, the notice will explain why.
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