adequate

Alternative forms

• adæquate (archaic)

Etymology

Latin adaequatus, past participle of adaequare (“to make equal to”); ad + aequare (“to make equal”), aequus (“equal”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈæ.də.kwɪt/, /ˈæ.də.kɪt/ (proscribed)

Verb

• IPA^(key): /ˈæ.dəˌkweɪt/

Adjective

adequate (comparative more adequate, superlative most adequate)

1. Equal to some requirement; proportionate, or correspondent; fully sufficient

   powers adequate to a great work

   an adequate definition

   • De Quincey

     Ireland had no adequate champion.

   • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Empty House

     All day, as I drove upon my round, I turned over the case in my mind and found no explanation which appeared to me to be adequate.

Verb

adequate (third-person singular simple present adequates, present participle adequating, simple past and past participle adequated)

1. (obsolete) To equalize; to make adequate.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Fotherby to this entry?)

2. (obsolete) To equal.

   It [is] an impossibility for any creature to adequate God in his eternity. — Shelford.

Anagrams

• æquated

Verb

adequate

1. second-person plural present indicative of adequare
2. second-person plural imperative of adequare

Participle

adequate

1. feminine singular of the past participle of adequare