omnicompetent, a.
(ˌɒmnɪˈkɒmpɪtənt)
[f. omni- + competent a.]
Competent to deal with everything; spec. possessing jurisdiction or authority to act in all matters. Hence omniˈcompetence.
| 1827 Bentham Logical Arrangem. Wks. 1843 X. 561/2 Judicature undiscontinued..Judicatories omnicompetent. 1889 Maitland Sel. Pleas Manorial Crts. p. lvi, Men no longer see any objection to the King's court making itself an omnicompetent court of first instance. 1900 Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. 121 That [doctrine] which would preach the omnicompetence of parliament. 1926 R. H. Tawney Relig. & Rise of Capitalism ii. 124 Recent political theory has been prolific in criticisms of the omnicompetent state. 1937 Times Lit. Suppl. 1 May 320 His omnicompetence dealt with the history of ideas as swiftly as with the measurement of the hide. 1943 C. S. Lewis Abolition of Man iii. 30 The man-moulders of the new age will be armed with the powers of an omnicompetent state and an irresistible scientific technique. 1952 V. A. Demant Relig. & Decline of Capitalism ii. 57 The principle of the omnicompetent state and the myth of the self-sufficient individual. 1961 Economist 30 Dec. 1276/1 A sort of ghostly middleman between omnipurpose boroughs and omnicompetent Government departments. 1967 Punch 11 Oct. 541 She comes from a famous wine family..so she is omnicompetent, bullying her maitre de chai, [etc.]. 1971 Mod. Law. Rev. XXXVI. 611 Parliament as an institution must be sovereign or omnicompetent at any given moment of time. 1973 Times Lit. Suppl. 28 Dec. 1588/2 The computers are no longer considered even by their supporters to be omnicompetent. 1975 Times 25 July 13/5 Deference to professional omnicompetence is, of course, gratifying. |