Friday 18 May 2007

idoneity

The OED is the only dictionary I've found with it in. Apart from Dick Tahta, using it to descibe mathematics, it only seems to crop up in the 1600s and 1822!


idoneity

Fitness, suitableness or aptitude.

1617 COLLINS Def. Bp. Ely II. x. 488 We are not to meane it of morall idoneity, or morall sufficiencie, but of Ecclesiasticall. 1668 HOWE Bless. Righteous (1825) 139 They want the..meetness, the aptitude or idoneity for the inheritance of the Saints in light. 1822 C. BUTLER Remin. (1823) I. 32 To inquire and report upon the learning..and general idoneity of the purchaser.

[ad. late L. idoneits, -ttem, f. idoneus (see next). Cf. F. idonéité, It. idoneità.]

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