Wiktionary

general

See also: General, général, generál, generał, and general-

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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”); thus morphologically parallel with, and a doublet of, generic.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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general (comparative more general, superlative most general)

  1. Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole, etc.; common to all, universal. [from 13th c.]
    Synonyms: common, universal; see also Thesaurus:generic
    Antonyms: specific, special, particular; see also Thesaurus:specific
    • c. 1495, John Skelton, "Vppon a deedman's hed":
      It is generall / To be mortall: / I haue well espyde / No man may hym hyde / From Deth holow eyed […] .
    • 1842, Douglas Jerrold, “Mr Peppersorn ‘At Home’”, in Cakes and Ale:
      "Among us!" was the general shout, and Peppersorn sat frozen to his chair.
    • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XLVI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 69:
      That each, who seems a separate whole,
      Should move his rounds, and fusing all
      The skirts of self again, should fall
      Remerging in the general Soul,
      Is faith as vague as all unsweet: […]
    • 1946, Bertrand Russell, “Stoicism”, in History of Western Philosophy, book 1, part 3:
      Undoubtedly the age of the Antonines was much better than any later age until the Renaissance, from the point of view of the general happiness.
    • 2006 October 15, Ruth Sutherland, “Invite public to the private equity party”, in The Observer:
      One advantage of having profitable companies in Britain is that they pay large sums in corporate tax into the Exchequer, which in theory at least is used for the general good.
  2. (sometimes postpositive) 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. [from 14th c.]
    • 1865, Edward Cust, Lives of the Warriors of the Thirty Years War, page 527:
      For these successes he obtained the rank of Field-Marshal General.
    • 2002, James Turner, Libertines and Radicals in Early Modern London, page 122:
      He becomes the chief chartered libertine, the whoremaster-general flourishing his "standard" over a female army […] .
  3. Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual. [from 14th c.]
    Synonyms: typical, usual, common; see also Thesaurus:common
    Antonyms: abnormal, uncommon
    • 1817, Sir Walter Scott, chapter IX, in Rob Roy:
      ‘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 […] .’
    • 2008 December 20, John Patterson, “Home movies”, in The Guardian:
      The general opinion on Baz Luhrmann's overstuffed epic Australia seems to be that it throws in everything but the kitchen sink, and then tosses that in too, just to be sure.
  4. Not limited in use or application; applicable across a broad range. [from 14th c.]
    Synonyms: broad, generic; see also Thesaurus:generic
    • 1924 March 17, Time:
      M. Venizelos went to Athens from Paris early last January in response to a general invitation from the Greek populace.
    • 1947 October 20, “Russian Catechism”, in Time:
      Already in the primary school work is conducted for the purpose of equipping the pupils with those elements of general knowledge which are closely related to the military preparation of future warriors.
    • 2009, Douglas P. Zipes, Saturday Evening Post, volume 281, number 1, page 20:
      Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a general term indicating a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) coming from the top chambers of the heart - in essence, above (supra) the lower chamber (ventricular).
  5. Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite. [from 16th c.]
    • 1817, Sir Walter Scott, chapter X, in Rob Roy:
      As she thus spoke, the entrance of the servants with dinner cut off all conversation but that of a general nature.
    • 1941, W Somerset Maugham, Up at the Villa, Vintage, published 2004, page 24:
      There was a moment's pause. The Princess broke in with some casual remark and once more the conversation became general.
    • 2006 July 16, Kevin Nance, “Ghosts of the White City”, in Chicago Sun-Times:
      The quick answer is that the 1893 Exposition was simply so important — "the greatest event in the history of the country since the Civil War," as Harper's put it that October — but that feels too general.
    • 2008, Robert P. Maloney, “The Quiet Carpenter”, in America, volume 199, number 19, page 18:
      Given the scarcity of relevant historical detail in the New Testament, we are left with only a general outline about Joseph.
  6. Not of a specific class; miscellaneous. [from 16th c.]
    general goods
    • 2007, Alan Cheuse, “A Little Death”, in Southern Review, volume 43, number 3, page 692:
      His measured, springless walk was the walk of the skilled countryman as distinct from the desultory shamble of the general labourer […] .

Translations

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Noun

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general (countable and uncountable, plural generals)

  2. (military) 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. [from 16th c.]
  4. A great strategist or tactician. [from 16th c.]
    Hannibal was one of the greatest generals of the ancient world.
  5. (now rare) A general fact or proposition; a generality. [from 16th c.]
    We have dealt with the generals; now let us turn to the particulars.
  6. (Christianity) The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits. [from 16th c.]
  7. (nautical) A commander of naval forces; an admiral. [16th–18th c.]
  8. (colloquial, now historical) A general servant; a maid with no specific duties. [from 19th c.]
  9. (countable) A general anesthetic.
  10. (uncountable) General anesthesia.
  11. (uncountable, insurance) The general insurance industry.
    I work in general.
  12. (xiangqi) A xiangqi piece that is moved one point orthogonally and confined within the palace.

Usage notes

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When used as a title, it is always capitalized, as in “General John Doe”.

Hyponyms

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(high-ranking military officer):

Coordinate terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

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Xiangqi pieces in English (see also: xiangqi) (layout · text)
             
general advisor elephant horse chariot cannon soldier

Verb

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general (third-person singular simple present generals, present participle generalling or generaling, simple past and past participle generalled or generaled)

  1. To lead (soldiers) as a general.
    • 1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Education of Otis Yeere”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 38:
      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

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general (not comparable)

  1. (obsolete) In a general or collective manner or sense; in most cases; upon the whole.

Derived terms

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terms derived from all parts of speech

Anagrams

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Azerbaijani

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Ultimately from Latin generālis.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ɟeneˈrɑɫ]
  • Hyphenation: ge‧ne‧ral

Noun

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general (definite accusative generalı, plural generallar)

  1. general

Declension

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Declension of general
singular plural
nominative generalgenerallar
definite accusative generalıgeneralları
dative generalagenerallara
locative generaldagenerallarda
ablative generaldangenerallardan
definite genitive generalıngeneralların
Possessive forms of general
nominative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) generalım generallarım
sənin (“your”) generalın generalların
onun (“his/her/its”) generalı generalları
bizim (“our”) generalımız generallarımız
sizin (“your”) generalınız generallarınız
onların (“their”) generalı or generalları generalları
accusative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) generalımı generallarımı
sənin (“your”) generalını generallarını
onun (“his/her/its”) generalını generallarını
bizim (“our”) generalımızı generallarımızı
sizin (“your”) generalınızı generallarınızı
onların (“their”) generalını or generallarını generallarını
dative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) generalıma generallarıma
sənin (“your”) generalına generallarına
onun (“his/her/its”) generalına generallarına
bizim (“our”) generalımıza generallarımıza
sizin (“your”) generalınıza generallarınıza
onların (“their”) generalına or generallarına generallarına
locative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) generalımda generallarımda
sənin (“your”) generalında generallarında
onun (“his/her/its”) generalında generallarında
bizim (“our”) generalımızda generallarımızda
sizin (“your”) generalınızda generallarınızda
onların (“their”) generalında or generallarında generallarında
ablative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) generalımdan generallarımdan
sənin (“your”) generalından generallarından
onun (“his/her/its”) generalından generallarından
bizim (“our”) generalımızdan generallarımızdan
sizin (“your”) generalınızdan generallarınızdan
onların (“their”) generalından or generallarından generallarından
genitive
singular plural
mənim (“my”) generalımın generallarımın
sənin (“your”) generalının generallarının
onun (“his/her/its”) generalının generallarının
bizim (“our”) generalımızın generallarımızın
sizin (“your”) generalınızın generallarınızın
onların (“their”) generalının or generallarının generallarının

Further reading

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Catalan

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin generālis.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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general m or f (masculine and feminine plural generals)

  1. general

Noun

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general m (plural generals, feminine generala)

  1. (military) general

Derived terms

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Further reading

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Danish

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Noun

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general c (singular definite generalen, plural indefinite generaler)

  1. general

Inflection

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Declension of general
common
gender 		singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative general generalen generaler generalerne
genitive generals generalens generalers generalernes

Ladin

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Adjective

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general m (feminine singular generala, masculine plural generai, feminine plural generales)

  1. general

Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From a mixture of Anglo-Norman general, Middle French general, and Latin generālis.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /dʒɛnəˈraːl/, /ˈdʒɛnəral/

Adjective

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general

  1. universal, complete
  2. comprehensive, wide-ranging
  3. general, widely useable or applicable
  4. common, widely present

Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • English: general
  • Scots: general
  • Yola: generale

References

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Noun

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general (plural generals)

  1. genus, class, group

References

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Norwegian Bokmål

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Noun

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general m (definite singular generalen, indefinite plural generaler, definite plural generalene)

  1. (military) a general

Derived terms

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Norwegian Nynorsk

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Noun

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general m (definite singular generalen, indefinite plural generalar, definite plural generalane)

  1. (military) a general

Derived terms

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Old French

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin generālis.

Noun

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general oblique singular, m (oblique plural generaus or generax or generals, nominative singular generaus or generax or generals, nominative plural general)

  1. (military) general

Adjective

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general m (oblique and nominative feminine singular generale)

  1. general (not limited in use or application; applicable to the whole or every member of a class or category)

Declension

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Case masculine feminine neuter
singular subject generals, generaus, generax generale general
oblique general generale general
plural subject general generales general
oblique generals, generaus, generax generales general

Descendants

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Portuguese

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Portuguese Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia pt

Etymology

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Learned borrowing from Latin generālis. Doublet of geral.

Pronunciation

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  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /ʒɨ.nɨˈɾal/ [ʒɨ.nɨˈɾaɫ]
    • (Southern Portugal) IPA(key): /ʒɨ.nɨˈɾa.li/

  • Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw
  • Hyphenation: ge‧ne‧ral

Adjective

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general m or f (plural generais)

  1. (military) general (said of the subcategory of armed forces officer with a rank above that of senior officer)
  2. (military) general (said of the military with this subcategory)
  3. (obsolete) general (including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole)

Noun

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general m (plural generais)

  1. (military) general (highest rank in the category of Army and Air Force officers, whose insignia consists of four stars)
  2. (figuratively) chief, leader

Noun

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general m or f by sense (plural generais)

  1. (military) general (officer holding that post)
  2. (military) general (designation common to military personnel holding the ranks of general, lieutenant general and major general)

Descendants

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Further reading

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Romanian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from French général, from Latin generālis.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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general m (plural generali)

  1. general

Declension

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Declension of general
singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative-accusative general generalul generali generalii
genitive-dative general generalului generali generalilor
vocative generalule generalilor

Adjective

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general m or n (feminine singular generală, masculine plural generali, feminine and neuter plural generale)

  1. general

Declension

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Declension of general
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative-
accusative 		indefinite general generală generali generale
definite generalul generala generalii generalele
genitive-
dative 		indefinite general generale generali generale
definite generalului generalei generalilor generalelor
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Serbo-Croatian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from German General, from Latin generālis.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɡeněraːl/
  • Hyphenation: ge‧ne‧ral

Noun

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genèrāl m (Cyrillic spelling генѐра̄л)

  1. (military) general

Declension

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Declension of general
singular plural
nominative genèrāl generali
genitive generála generala
dative generalu generalima
accusative generala generale
vocative generale generali
locative generalu generalima
instrumental generalom generalima

Slovene

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Etymology

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From German General, from Latin generālis.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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generȃl m anim (female equivalent generȃlica or generȃlka)

  1. (military) general

Declension

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 The diacritics used in this section of the entry are non-tonal. If you are a native tonal speaker, please help by adding the tonal marks.
Masculine anim., hard o-stem
nom. sing. generál
gen. sing. generála
singular dual plural
nominative
(imenovȃlnik) 		generál generála generáli
genitive
(rodȋlnik) 		generála generálov generálov
dative
(dajȃlnik) 		generálu generáloma generálom
accusative
(tožȋlnik) 		generála generála generále
locative
(mẹ̑stnik) 		generálu generálih generálih
instrumental
(orọ̑dnik) 		generálom generáloma generáli

Further reading

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  • “general”, in Slovarji Inštituta za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovša ZRC SAZU (in Slovene), 2014–2025

Spanish

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Etymology

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From Latin generālis.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /xeneˈɾal/ [xe.neˈɾal]
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: ge‧ne‧ral

Adjective

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general m or f (masculine and feminine plural generales)

  1. general, overall

Derived terms

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Noun

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general m (plural generales, feminine general or generala, feminine plural generales or generalas)

  1. (military) general

Noun

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general f (plural generales)

  1. (informal, in the plural) general elections
    • 2003 July 12, fernando, “CON ZAPATERO PERDEMOS LAS GENERALES [WITH ZAPATERO WE LOSE THE GENERAL ELECTIONS]”, in soc.culture.spain‎[1] (Usenet):

Derived terms

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Descendants

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Further reading

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Swedish

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Etymology

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From German General, from Old French general, from Latin generālis.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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general c

  1. a general; a military title[1]
  2. an Air Chief Marshal[1]

Declension

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Declension of general
nominative genitive
singular indefinite general generals
definite generalen generalens
plural indefinite generaler generalers
definite generalerna generalernas

Descendants

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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Utrikes namnbok (7th ed., 2007) →ISBN
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