[Grammar] It would appear to qualify

[ArthurP]

Hello to everybody!
I've faced with a problem when translating the scientific text:
"Engineering is often compared to medicine and law in discussions of its professional status. It would appear to qualify according to the dictionary meaning of the word".
Could you please help me to understand the underlined part of the quote above? I'd like you to present it in some other words or reference some grammar notes.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Munch]

The sentence is a little unclear to me because “the dictionary meaning of the word” could be referring to the meaning of “engineering”, “profession” or “professional”. ​

In any case, the sentence is saying that if we judge from dictionary definitions, engineering should be considered a “profession” in the same way that medicine and law are. Note that this is the stricter definition of “profession” and means more than just job. It is meaning 4a from Merriam-Webster online:​

a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation​