different between sufficient vs suffice

English

Alternative forms

• suff. (abbreviation)

Etymology

From Old French sufisanz, soficient, from Latin suffici?ns, present participle of suffici?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??f???nt/
• Hyphenation: suf?fi?cient
• Rhymes: -???nt

Adjective

sufficient (comparative more sufficient, superlative most sufficient)

1. Equal to the end proposed; adequate to what is needed; enough

   Synonyms: ample, competent

2. Possessing adequate talents or accomplishments; of competent power or ability; qualified; fit.

   A two-week training course is sufficient to get a job in the coach-driving profession.

3. (archaic) Capable of meeting obligations; responsible.
   • 1668, Samuel Pepys, Diary of Samuel Pepys December 23 1668

     ...to take the best ways we can, to make it known to the Duke of York; for, till Sir J. Minnes be removed, and a sufficient man brought into W. Pen's place, when he is gone, it is impossible for this Office ever to support itself.

4. (obsolete) Having enough money to meet obligations and live comfortably.

Antonyms

• insufficient
• nonsufficient
• unsufficient

Derived terms

• self-sufficient
• sufficiency
• sufficiently

Related terms

• suffice

Translations

See also

• adequate
• ample
• enough
• plenty

Determiner

sufficient

1. The smallest amount needed.

   Sufficient of us are against this idea that we should stop now.

Translations

Further reading

• sufficient in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• sufficient in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• sufficient at OneLook Dictionary Search

Latin

Verb

sufficient

1. third-person plural future active indicative of suffici?

English

Etymology

From Middle English suffisen, from Middle French souffire, from Latin suffici? (“supply, be adequate”), from sub (“under”) + faci? (“do, make”). Cognate with French suffire.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /s??fa?s/
• Rhymes: -a?s

Verb

suffice (third-person singular simple present suffices, present participle sufficing, simple past and past participle sufficed)

1. (intransitive) To be enough or sufficient; to meet the need (of anything); to be adequate; to be good enough.

   For this plum cake, two eggs should suffice.
2. (transitive) To satisfy; to content; to be equal to the wants or demands of.

   A joint of lamb sufficed even his enormous appetite.

   • 1838, The Church of England quarterly review (page 203)

     Lord Brougham's salary would have sufficed more than ninety Prussian judges.

3. To furnish; to supply adequately.

Usage notes

• Commonly used in the phrase suffice it to say.
• Mostly used in modal verb constructions, such as: Half a loaf per day will suffice. This is much more common than the direct form Half a loaf per day suffices.

Synonyms

• (be enough) work, do

Related terms

• satisfice
• sufficient

Translations

Further reading

• suffice in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• suffice in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• suffice at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• Cuffies, cuffies

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /?suf.fi.ke/, [?s??f??k?]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /?suf.fi.t??e/, [?suf?it???]

Verb

suffice

1. second-person singular present active imperative of suffici?