general dischargen.
/ˌdʒɛn(ə)rəl ˈdɪstʃɑːdʒ/, /ˌdʒɛn(ə)rl̩ ˈdɪstʃɑːdʒ/, U.S. /ˌdʒɛn(ə)rəl ˈdɪsˌtʃɑrdʒ/ 1. A comprehensive discharge from an obligation or liability, esp. from a debt; (now) spec. (chiefly U.S.) the comprehensive discharge of a person from bankrupt status. Cf. absolute discharge n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > [noun] > remission of something due
remissiona1382
releasea1387
pardonc1387
relaxation1440
pardoningc1443
loosing1495
general discharge1565
absolute discharge1572
remitter1726
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Tabulæ nouæ A generall discharge and quittance by common authoritie of all debtes & obligations past before time, without any paying or satisfiyng of the same.
1606 Wily Beguilde 48 My Landlord has giuen me a general discharge, Ile be married presently, my fines paied: I haue a discharge for it.
1762 London Mag. Nov. 580/1 The next act of insolvency entitles him to a general discharge, upon the surrender of the little that he may then have left.
1841 Monthly Rev. Apr. 589 A cessio bonorum.., if honourably and creditably effected, is followed by a general discharge, and the individual may commence the world again.
1914 Ruling Case Law 3 137 The Bankruptcy Act makes a clear distinction between the general discharge and the right of a particular creditor to be excepted from it.
2002 Business Lawyer 57 1345 Upon completion of his plan payments.., the debtor received a general discharge from the bankruptcy court.
2. U.S. Military. A discharge from military service with a record which is satisfactory, but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an honourable discharge; (also) a certificate attesting to such a discharge.The term now usually indicates that the service member has committed minor infractions or received some form of non-judicial punishment.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > discharge from service > [noun]
cassation1602
exauctorationa1654
muster out1889
general discharge1947
bowler-hatting1953
1947 Army Information Digest July 40 A General Discharge will be granted..where their service has not been sufficiently outstanding to meet both the character and efficiency ratings listed above.
1974 Crisis Oct. 276/2 Even the ‘General Discharge’..carries a shame so that many veterans don't even apply for the veterans benefits for which they are eligible.
1993 Washington Post 7 July e13/2 She..resigned in 1986 with this notation on her general discharge: ‘dereliction, moral or professional’.
2009 A. Hoffer & A. W. Saul Vitamin Cure for Alcoholism v. 64 He said he could help me if I chose to stay in the service, but I was ashamed and accepted a general discharge.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1565