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General

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general¹

  • /ˈd͡ʒɛn.(ə.)ɹəl/ Canada, US, UK
  • /ˈd͡ʒen.(ə.)ɹəl/ Australia, New Zealand

Rhymes with (US) -ɛnəɹəl

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁-

Proto-Indo-European *-os

Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁os

Proto-Italic *genos

Latin genus, generis

Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?

Proto-Italic *-ālis

Latin -ālis

Latin generālisbor.

Anglo-Norman generalbor.

Middle French generalbor.

▲

Latin generālisder.

Middle English general

English general

From Middle English general, in turn from Anglo-Norman general, generall, Middle French general, and their source, Latin generālis, from genus (“class, kind”) + -ālis (“-al”).

adjective more general · most general · General · gen. · gen · Gen.

  1. Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole, etc.; common to all, universal. It is generall / To be mortall: / I haue well espyde / No man may hym hyde / From Deth holow eyed […].
  2. postpositional, sometimes Applied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms; pre-eminent. For these successes he obtained the rank of Field-Marshal General.
  3. Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual. ‘I can't quite afford you the sympathy you expect upon this score,’ I replied; ‘the misfortune is so general, that it belongs to one half of the species […].’
  4. Not limited in use or application; applicable across a broad range. M. Venizelos went to Athens from Paris early last January in response to a general invitation from the Greek populace.
  5. Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite. As she thus spoke, the entrance of the servants with dinner cut off all conversation but that of a general nature.
  6. Not of a specific class; miscellaneous. general goods

noun generals · General · gen. · gen · Gen. · Gen

  1. countable, uncountable The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces. General Eisenhower was the first SACEUR.
  2. countable, uncountable A great strategist or tactician. Hannibal was one of the greatest generals of the ancient world.
  3. archaic, countable, uncountable A general fact or proposition; a generality. We have dealt with the generals; now let us turn to the particulars.
  4. countable, uncountable The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits.
  5. countable, uncountable The equivalent of a king in Chinese chess, the xiangqi piece that is confined to the palace, moves orthogonally one point at a time, and whose loss decides the game.
  6. countable, obsolete, uncountable Synonym of admiral, a senior naval title, a great naval strategist or tactician.
  7. abbreviation, colloquial, countable, historical, uncountable Short for general servant, a maid-of-all-work, a servant able to be assigned to any task in a household.general servant Then the servants left and there was only one, a General. A great deal of your comfort and happiness depends on having a good General.
  8. abbreviation, countable Short for general election, a regular election for most offices in a region or country.general election Sure, this candidate is the favorite in the primary among the party faithful, but how is he going to do in the general?
  9. abbreviation, countable Short for general anesthetic, a substance used to numb most feeling throughout the body.general anesthetic
  10. abbreviation, uncountable Short for general anesthesia, the category of substances used to numb most feeling throughout the body or an instance of such substances.general anesthesia
  11. abbreviation, uncountable Short for general insurance, the area of the insurance industry dealing with policies for the general public.general insurance I work in general.

verb generals · generaling · generalling · generaled · generalled

  1. To lead (soldiers) as a general. Generalled by Mrs. Hauksbee, who, again, had all Mrs. Mallowe's wisdom at her disposal, proud of himself and, in the end, believing in himself because he was believed in, Otis Yeere stood ready for any fortune that might befall, certain that it would be good.

adverb General · gen. · gen · Gen. · Gen · genl

  1. not comparable, obsolete In a general or collective manner or sense; in most cases; upon the whole.

General²

noun Generals · Gen. · Gen · Genl · Gen'l

  1. Alternative letter-case form of general in its various senses.general You're going to have to tell that to the president yourself, General.
  2. The title used by a military general, flag rank officer of the military General Polk stated, with all respect to General Bragg’s great abilities in the direction of organization and discipline, that he had been wanting in the higher elements of generalship in the conduct of the campaign; and that, in view of the admitted possibilities of the campaign, he considered it a

proper noun Gen. · Gen · Genl · Gen'l

  1. abbreviation, ellipsis, informal Ellipsis of General Hospital.General Hospital The ambulance is taking him to General. Owerri West General Hospital or Owerri North? Obinze is still in charge of West General. If it's that one, turn it around now.

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