qualified 的词源

1580年代，表示“因才能或天赋而适合”；1590年代，表示“受到某种程度的限制或修改”。这个词是从动词 qualify 转化而来的过去分词形容词。到1886年及20世纪中期，它在英国英语中被用作 bloody 或 damned 的委婉说法。

To be competent is to have the natural abilities or the general training necessary for any given work ; to be qualified is to have, in addition to competency, a special training, enabling one to begin the work effectively and at once. He who is competent may or may not require time to become qualified; he who is not competent cannot become qualified, for it is not in him. [Century Dictionary]

能够胜任工作的人被称为 competent，他们具备完成某项工作的自然能力或一般培训；而 qualified 则意味着在具备这些能力的基础上，还接受了特别培训，能够立即有效地开始工作。一个 competent 的人可能需要时间才能变得 qualified，而一个不具备能力的人则无法成为 qualified，因为他缺乏必要的基础。[《世纪词典》]