| 释义 |
generaladj.n. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French general; Latin generālis. Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman general, generall and Old French, Middle French general (French général ) (adjective) common or applicable to all or nearly all people (early 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman in pechié general original sin), concerned with or established for the whole of a territory or organization (end of the 12th cent.; chiefly with reference to deliberative bodies, e.g. in assemblee generale , concile general ), (of a rule or principle) applicable to a variety of cases (1212 or earlier in Anglo-Norman), total, complete (second half of the 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), not specifically limited or determined in application, relating or applicable to all members of a set (c1265), (of high-ranking officials) having overall responsibility (late 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman, frequently as postmodifier in titles, e.g. coroner general , ministre general , vicaire general , tresorier general ), vague, imprecise (c1300 or earlier in Anglo-Norman), widespread, not localized (14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), (of a word, name, term) applicable to each of the individuals constituting a group or sharing a characteristic (second half of the 14th cent. or earlier), (of a proclamation, charter, or other official document) covering all points (late 14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), (noun) general principle, universally valid fact or statement (c1265), chief administrative officer responsible for a particular department (late 14th cent., earliest in sense ‘chief public prosecutor’, short for procureur general ; beginning of the 15th cent. denoting a high-ranking public officer in charge of finances and tax collection), highest-ranking officer of an army (1549; short for capitaine general captain-general n.), head of a religious order (1554, originally with reference to the Jesuits), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin generālis shared by or common to the whole of a class or kind, generic, forming a group or class, of universal application, concerned with the nature or character of a thing, in post-classical Latin also common, of or for everybody, equal for all, (of the church) universal (4th cent.), widespread, not localized (from 11th cent. in British sources), (of an official) having overall responsibility (11th cent.; frequently from 13th cent. in British sources), (of an assembly or court) having overall jurisdiction (from 12th cent. in British sources), not specific, imprecise (from 13th cent. in British sources) < gener- , genus , class, kind, race (see genus n.) + -ālis -al suffix1. With use as noun compare post-classical Latin generalis head of a religious order (from late 13th cent. in British sources; also in continental sources), generale general principle (13th cent. in a British source).The word is somewhat rare in classical Latin; in the later language, when genus and species (after the use of ancient Greek γένος and εἶδος in Aristotle) had become familiar as the technical terms for classes respectively of greater and less extension, generalis came to be often used in contrast to specialis ; the antithetic use of the two words remains in the modern Romance and Germanic languages. The Latin word was borrowed into many other European languages; compare Old Occitan general (adjective and noun), Catalan general (1250 as adjective, 13th cent. as noun), Spanish general (late 12th cent. as adjective, first half of the 15th cent. as noun in sense ‘that which is general’, late 15th cent. as noun in sense ‘head of a religious order’, 1527 or earlier as noun in sense ‘military commander’ (short for capitán general captain-general n.)), Portuguese general , adjective and noun (13th cent. as gẽeral , 1538 as generall ; in use as adjective now restricted to the sense ‘(of military quarters) chief, main’, the other senses having been superseded by geral (15th cent.), originally a variant with elision of the second syllable), Italian generale (a1292 as adjective, a1380 as noun in sense ‘head of a religious order’, a1527 as noun in sense ‘military commander’); also Middle Dutch generael (a1270 as adjective, end of the 14th cent. as noun in sense ‘head of a religious organization’; Dutch generaal , †generael , whose use as noun in sense ‘military commander’ (1584) is a borrowing < French), Middle High German general head of a religious order (German (adjective) general (a1400; now only as first element in compounds such as Generalbass figured bass, Generaldirektor director general; otherwise superseded by generell (18th cent.; < French général , with suffix substitution)), (noun) General (now chiefly in sense ‘military commander’ (late 16th cent.; < French)), Swedish (adjective) generell (1726 as generel ; via German), (as first element in compounds) general (1597 as generall ), (noun) general (1619), Danish (adjective) generel (1800; via German), also (now rare except as first element in compounds) general (late 17th cent. in the compound generalstaab general staff), (noun) general (18th cent.). The β. forms (unparalleled in French) perhaps show alteration after gender n. or its etymon Anglo-Norman and Middle French gendre. In sense B. 5 after French générale générale n. Sense B. 6a is either after a Romance language (use as noun in this sense is first attested slightly later in French, but earlier in Spanish and Italian), or is short for either captain-general n. or general captain (see sense A. 8b(b); compare also general officer n. at Compounds 2). In General January , General Janvier , General February , General Fevrier (see sense B. 6d) apparently after French Général Janvier and Général Février respectively, both attributed (in the source cited at quot. 1855 at sense B. 6d) to Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, who is supposed to have used them in a speech in 1855, during the Crimean War. However, neither French phrase is securely attested until slightly later (1856, in the context of French colonial wars in North Africa). In General Winter (see sense B. 6d) after French Général Hiver (1817 or earlier, in a context claiming that the phrase was first used by English journalists (though no such earlier use has been traced), with reference to the defeat of Napoleon's Grande Armée in 1812). With for the general at Phrases 2b compare Spanish por lo general (1586). With in general at Phrases 2c compare post-classical Latin in generale, in generali without specific reference (14th cent. in British sources), Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French en general, French en général (c1270). A. adj. I. With reference to things, collective unities, etc. 1. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 213 Na mon ne eote biuoren ow bute bi ower meistres leaue, general oðer spetial as of freres preachurs & meonurs, spetial of alle oþre. 1340 (1866) 14 Þe tuelfte article is to leue þe general arizinge of bodye. 1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith (1870) 52 Also ordeynd it was, be on assente of þe fraternite, þt þe general day schulde ben helde [vppon] þe feste of reliques. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. lxxxviii. 1239 Where to gret multitude is of lyse in a body þat is swiþe f[o]ulle and corrupte it is ofte taken of general corrupcioun. c1450 (c1400) (1881) l. 295 Thai made assaite [sic] then generalle. 1503 in R. W. Greaves (1956) 57 Ether of them shall seale a generall quietans of all maner of maters. 1583 P. Stubbes sig. M2 The generall resurrection at the last day. 1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival i. iv. xviii. 130 He wanted but the getting of one General Battel. 1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius 387 The Cities of the Netherlands, made it their general Request..that [etc.]. 1707 in J. A. Picton (1886) II. 9 The Earl of Derby being elected Mayor, the Aldrmen and Councell signify'd the same to his Lordpp by a general letter. 1712 J. Addison No. 523. ¶7 The Time of a General Peace is, in all appearance, drawing near. 1732 G. Berkeley I. i. xvi. 58 Is not the general Good of Mankind to be regarded as [etc.]? 1738 J. Swift 31 All the World knows, that Mr. Spruce is a general Lover. 1738 S. Berington tr. 95 Those vast Lands or Hills of Gravel, were undoubtedly left by the general Deluge. 1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ 47 I returned..and was received with a general shout of joy. 1786 E. Burke xvi. 317 A general rebellion and revolt for the utter extirpation of the English nation. 1817 J. Mill III. vi. i. 8 The remaining chiefs..immediately broke into general discord. 1820 W. Scoresby II. 359 A large whale, harpooned from a boat belonging to the same ship, became the subject of a general share. 1833 A. Alison I. i. 57 Fruitless struggles of partial freedom with general servitude. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. ii. 202 The English government, lately an object of general contempt. 1874 J. R. Green v. §1. 212 The tendency to a general use of the national tongue told powerfully on literature. 1909 2/1 She forgot her words entirely, and returned to the general dressingroom covered with confusion. 1944 T. S. C. Dagg ii. 51 As it [sc. the ball] reaches the ground both sides surround it in a general ‘scrimmage’. 1997 14 Apr. 24/7 The amateur politician..who does what he thinks is right, what makes sense, and what will be to the general good of his constituents. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > general or in common to various things ?c1430 (c1400) Rule St. Francis (Corpus Cambr.) in F. D. Matthew (1880) 43 A general mynystre & seruaunt of al þe breþerhed. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine f. cclxiv/1 Yf this sentence be generalle to alle them, that haue mynystred Ihesu cryst by fayth and by werke, how is ther ony more special than Marye. 1559 W. Cuningham 47 Th' Earth is round, causing vs & them not to haue one generall Horizent. 1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid i. f. 6v Common sentences [sc. axioms] are generall to all things wherunto they can be applied. 1631 D. Widdowes tr. W. A. Scribonius (new ed.) 2 Accidents are..generall to all things, as motion, time, and place, for these belong to all. 1667 J. Milton iv. 144 Our general Sire. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton iv. 492 So spake our general Mother. View more context for this quotation c1703 Ld. Godolphin in (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 352 What the Queen has commanded..is not particular to that office, but general to all others. 1762 W. Jones iv. v. 224 This form is so general to the individuals of the species, that in its several names, a particular regard is always paid to this quaternity of its leaves. the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > [adjective] > considered collectively 1533 T. More i. viii. f. liv Thys were an endeles dyuysyon, yf euery suche fawte of some, sholde vppon euery some saye be layed for a cause of dyuysyon agaynst the generall body. 1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini i. 32 Following the councell of Lodovvyk Sforce, he banished out of Lyons, not the generall marchauntes, but onely the factors and bankers of P. de medicis. 1608 W. Shakespeare iv. 57 A great abatement, apeer's as well in the generall dependants, as in the Duke himselfe. View more context for this quotation 1609 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 134 Critiques apt without a theme For deprauation, to square the generall sex By Cresseids rule. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iv. 3 All our generall force, Might with a sally of the very Towne Be buckled with. View more context for this quotation 1726 A. Pope tr. Homer V. xxiv. 230 The gen'ral sex shall suffer in her shame. 1793 15 Feb. 3/1 We recommend very strongly to the notice of the Police Department, the general body of French Dancing Masters practising in London, who are the veriest Jacobins in existence. 1842 XXIV. 180/1 The Master [of the Knights Templars]..was elected by the Chapter, or general body of the Knights. 1874 J. R. Green iv. §2. 171 A fixed sum..apportioned by their own magistrates among the general body of the burghers. 1923 16 May 8/4 Sky-writing..did not commend itself to the general body of advertisers. 1994 T. Byrne (ed. 6) xii. 359 Where the aggrieved persons consist of the general body of ratepayers..court action is normally taken on their behalf by the Attorney-General. 2. society > society and the community > [adjective] society > authority > rule or government > territorial jurisdiction or areas subject to > [adjective] > the whole of c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 1498 in C. Horstmann (1887) 149 (MED) Greye Monekes of Cistevs fram ȝere to ȝere A Chapitre makeden generale of Abbodes þat þere were; For euerech Abbod of greie Monekes to þulke chapitle cam. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 10173 (MED) Þis bissopes to londone echone gonne wende..& conceil made general, þis entredit to do. c1480 (a1400) St. Barnabas 15 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) I. 249 He callit paule..& mad hyme doctor generale, to preche in þis varld hale. a1538 T. Starkey (1989) 83 Els we schold have veray oft general connsellys. 1573 R. Lever iv. xiii. 183 There will be warre, for there is a generall muster taken through the whole realme. 1670 c. 14 Preamb. A Generall Sessions of Sewers holden at Spalding. 1778 A. Hamilton Let. 13 Feb. in (1961) I. 427 Arguments to you Sir, need not be multiplied to enforce the necessity of having a good general council. 1791 G. Washington Let. in (1892) XII. 33 The States individually are omitting no occasion to intermeddle in matters, which belong to the general government. 1813 Duke of Wellington Let. to Brisbane 18 Aug. in (1838) XI. 10 I have to inform the General court martial that [etc.]. 1837 H. Martineau II. 66 The expenses of the general government are so small that [etc.]. 1872 C. M. Clode ii. 33 ‘For the better administration of Justice’, the Code [of 1666] established..a ‘General Court-martial’ for offences punishable with life or limb. 1907 Feb. 249 The financing of the valorization scheme is provided for by the issuing of bonds by the three coffee producing States, guaranteed by the general government. 1925 in K. Laybourn (1991) 135 The powers, functions, and work of the General Council are, of course, far wider in their range than those of the old Parliamentary Committee which it has superseded. 1995 11 May 15/1 The central provinces were formed into an administrative unit called the General Government (GG) under control of a German governor. society > faith > sect > Christianity > person > [adjective] a1400 Bk. to Mother (Egerton) in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell (1845) I. 38 I byleve in the holy gost, holy chirche general. ?a1450 (?c1400) (Lamb.) (1901) 17 We schul trow þat þer ys general chirche. c1600 (?c1395) (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) l. 816 In þe heiȝe holly gost holly y beleue, And generall holy chirche. 1688 O. Walker 10 Tho the General Church cannot, yet a National Church may, err in fundamentals also, and may apostatize. 1880 15 Apr. 6/2 The various Gnostic schools were more and more rudely repulsed from the bosom of the general Church. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > general or prevalent a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iii. l. 2527 Which Senne [sc. homicide] is now so general. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 2 (MED) It es lang tyme passed sen þare was any general passage ouer þe see in to þe haly land. 1535 Eccl. vi. 1 There is yet a plage vnder ye Sonne, and it is a general thinge amonge men. 1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye II. To Rdr. sig. b3v Seeing the generall prophannesse of mens liues almost euery where. 1613 S. Purchas 907 These dances are generall thorow America. 1623 in R. F. Williams (1849) (modernized text) II. 369 It [sc. the report] came to town on Tuesday night, and was general all Wednesday. 1750 S. Johnson No. 71. ⁋9 This general forgetfulness of the fragility of life. 1752 W. Mason Let. ii, in p. v A Writer of Tragedy must certainly adapt himself more to the general taste. 1795 W. Paley (ed. 3) II. iii. ii. 302 It was a general, but erroneous, opinion of those times. 1822 R. G. Wallace Advt. 5 Arrowsmith's new map is now in such general circulation that [etc.]. 1856 J. A. Froude (1858) I. i. 65 A proof..of Henry's confidence in the general attachment of his subjects. 1875 C. D. E. Fortnum iii. 34 The use of the white stanniferous enamel did not become general in Italy until [etc.]. 1885 15 May 5/3 Lord R. Churchill's latest escapade..is the theme of general remark. 1908 Jan. 206/1 The general taste of the period may perhaps best be estimated by the use made of Chinese porcelain. 1939 48 709 There is a general opinion that international war on a world scale will be avoided. 1999 (Nexis) 27 Apr. The more personal health information in general circulation, the greater the potential for abuse of that information. 2005 S. Elmes iii. 75 Terms that are rooted in black music culture, many of which are steadily finding their way out into the general lexicon. 4. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > generally applicable > specifically of a word or name a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. l. 1327 (MED) The Greks..Sein ek that of the helles hihe The goddes ben in special, Bot of here name in general Thei hoten alle Satiri. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 334 Organum is a general name [L. generale nomen] of alle instrumentes of musik and is naþeles specialliche a proprete to þe instrument þat is y-made of many pipes. 1531 T. Elyot ii. viii. sig. Qviv Humanitie..is a generall name to those vertues, in whome semeth to be a mutuall concorde & loue, in the nature of man. 1551 T. Wilson sig. Ciijv The Predicamentes, called in Englishe Generall wordes. 1597 T. Morley 180 These and all other kinds of light musick sauing the Madrigal are by a generall name called ayres. 1627 T. Jackson x. 80 Agar or Sinai is not such a generall name of the whole mountaine-country in Arabia, as Wold or chilterne is in English. 1690 J. Locke iii. iii. 190 How come we by general Terms, or where find we those general Natures they are supposed to stand for? 1732 G. Berkeley II. vii. vii. 141 Words become general by representing an indefinite Number of particular Ideas. 1785 T. Reid 432 Every substantive that has a plural number is a general word. 1803 10 111 In..India we feed our horses with a species of vetch..; Europeans call it by the general name of gram. 1870 W. S. Jevons iii. 18 General terms..are applicable in the same sense equally to any one of an indefinite number of objects which resemble each other in certain qualities. 1875 C. D. E. Fortnum ii. 20 The general term..Majolica, has long been and is still erroneously applied to all varieties of glazed earthenware of Italian origin. 1922 T. M. Lowry vi. 69 Lime can also be produced by ‘burning’ a large number of other materials which are described under the general name of limestone. 2005 C. Tudge i. 23 ‘Polyploid’ is the general term that describes any organism with more than two sets of chromosomes. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > generally applicable 1394 in J. Raine (1855) II. 186 (MED) I will that the same company sele Robyn another generall acquitans, and gif hym xl s. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 254v Þanne aȝens venyme I-take in þe body, hit is a general medicyne to excite spewinge. c1400 ( G. Chaucer (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §2. 15 This chapitre is so general euer in on, þat ther nedith no more declaracion. c1400 J. Wyclif (1871) III. 441 Þai say..þat speciale prayere aplied by hor prelatis is better þen generale. 1405 III. 605/1 Henry Boynton [etc.] our generalls and specialls Attornes and Deputes. c1449 R. Pecock (1860) 471 In a larger and generaler fourme. a1586 Sir P. Sidney (1595) sig. D3 The Historian..is..tyed..to the particuler truth of things, and not to the generall reason of things. 1628 G. Wither ii. 839 From acts particular None should conclusions generall inferre. 1687 J. Dryden To Rdr. sig. A3 No general Characters of Parties..can be so fully and exactly drawn, as to Comprehend all the several Members of'em. 1697 W. Dampier iii. 27 After we had answered these general questions, they began to be more particular. 1727 D. Defoe 6 He gave me a general Invitation to come one Day or other and take a Dinner with him. a1770 J. Jortin (1772) VII. ii. 29 These are some of the general directions which reason suggests with respect to God and man. 1801 G. Rose (1860) I. 293 The conversation was quite general. 1818 W. Cruise (ed. 2) II. 464 The first words being general, the putting afterwards of a particular case will make no difference. 1833 I. Taylor v. 124 What is special we can see; what is general escapes our notice. 1841–8 F. Myers II. iii. §3. 8 Divine communications of a form the most general and of a character the most direct. 1890 C. Bowen in 63 690/1 It seems to me that the judge really intended to give the plaintiff the general costs of the action. 1902 13 575 The first book is devoted to general questions concerning the soul, consciousness and unconsciousness, and the methods of Psychology. 1946 46 214/1 Health legislation will become an increasingly important topic of general conversation. 1994 64 316 Her speech, delivered slowly, is punctuated with appreciative noises and brought to an end with a general invitation to praise the exhibitioner. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > generally applicable > specifically of a rule, principle, or description a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 1 (MED) The firste tretis of surgerie halt wiþinne him general ruelis & canones. c1400 ( G. Chaucer (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) Prol. 3 The general rewles of theorik in Astrologie. 1486 B j a Bot that other Rewle is gendral [1496 generall]. 1563 W. Fulke i. f. 2v It is a general rule, that that whiche is once a thing, can not by chaunging become nothyng. 1638 F. Junius 224 There is another generall rule for our Invention propounded by Tullie. 1657 R. Ligon 53 Yet no rule so generall but hath his acception [i.e. exception]. 1733 A. Pope i. 150 The wise Almighty Cause..acts by gen'ral Laws. ?1800 S. T. Coleridge (1956) I. 559 A series of Essays on the Drama, both it's general principles, and likewise in reference to the present State of English Theatres. 1891 91 405/2 They..should have general principles to guide them. 1907 B. 79 11 The general formulæ for stoichiometrical reactions are t″ − t′ = k log C′/C″ for monomolecular reactions and t″ − t′ = k [1/(C″)n − 1/(C′)n] for multimolecular reactions. 1994 K. Kelly vii. 121 The cybernetic principle the engineers discovered is a general one: if the variables are tightly coupled, and if you can truly manipulate one of them in all its freedoms, then you can indirectly control all of them. 2000 P. Thompson (ed. 3) viii. 252 The general legal principle is that there are two copyrights in a recording. 1749 (Royal Soc.) 45 330 The Fluent of the general Term, when the Multiplicator..becomes = 0. 1807 J. Brinkley (title) An investigation of the general term of an important series in the inverse method of finite differences. 1858 I. Todhunter xxxvi. 291 This expression is called the general term, because by putting 1, 2, 3..successively for r, it gives us in succession the 2nd, 3rd, 4th..terms. 1922 C. K. Ogden et al. tr. L. Wittgenstein 87 We can determine the general term of the formal series by giving its first term and the general form of the operation, which generates the following term out of the preceding proposition. 2004 D. Capewell 4 For a linear sequence, discuss how to find the general term using first differences. 5. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > not specified > general or not detailed 1538 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Sarcerius l. f. clxxxvii This general description of sclaunder shal appere in ye declaracion of p[ar]tes. 1563 W. Fulke i. f. 1v But first, we must be occupied a litle in the general description of the same, yt afterward shal be particularly intreated of. a1586 Sir P. Sidney (1590) i. vi. sig. E1v Palladius hauing gotten this generall knowledge of the partie against whom, as hee had already of the party for whom he was to fight, he [etc.]. 1590 E. Spenser Let. to Sir W. Raleigh in sig. Pp The generall end therefore of all the booke is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline. 1598 W. Shakespeare ii. iv. 20 My Lord of York commends the plot, and the generall course of the Action. View more context for this quotation 1651 T. Hobbes ii. xxvii. 160 The Law regardeth not the particular, but the general inclination of mankind. 1719 J. Richardson 145 As in all the Stages of our Lives there is a General Resemblance. 1798 J. Ferriar iv. 119 I shall try to give the reader a general idea. 1820 W. Scoresby I. 539 In its general form, it [sc. the squalus borealis] very much resembles the dog-fish. 1851 IV. 860 We should first obtain a general idea of the number and position of the several mountain ranges of India. 1860 J. Tyndall i. xi. 74 A general knowledge was all that could be expected. 1880 A. Geikie (new ed.) v. 349 Climate..must follow the same general distribution over the earth's surface. 1918 E. S. Keene vi. 92 In general form, pantry cocks are the same as those used for basins except that the outlet is elongated. 1951 N. Pevsner (Buildings of Eng.) 83 The Sunk Garden belongs in its general plan to the time of William III, but in its present appearance is an excellent example of [etc.]. 2005 C. Tudge v. 105 A ‘grade’: a collection of creatures with similar general features. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > not specified > indefinite 1601 J. Manningham 2 Feb. (1976) 48 Counterfayting a letter, as from his Lady, in generall termes. 1726 Bp. J. Butler xi. 203 Every Man hath a general Desire of his own Happiness. 1823 W. Scott I. v. 119 Some general remark on fishing and field-sports. 1884 10 May 5/6 The dispute..was alluded to only in the most general and distant terms. 1978 S. Chatman i. 30 Verbal narrative may elect not to present some visual aspect, say, a character's clothes. It..describes them in a general way: ‘He was dressed in street clothes’. 1999 S. Stewart v. 90 In a vague, general, roundabout sort of way I admitted stitching up Lilly, my own best friend. 2007 12 Nov. 44/1 The assertion so general that anyone would agree. 6. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > of no special quality > that is not a specialist the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > intellectual command, mastery > [adjective] > operating broadly 1551 J. Bale f. x Thys chaplayne of the deuyll, was a generall prouyder for the oyled fathers there, that their fleshly heates myght be quenched in the darke, by other mennys wyues and doughters. 1552 R. Ascham Let. 12 July in H. Ellis (1843) (Camden) 12 Taking away such a general and onely man as Mr. Cheeke is. 1590 R. Greene 5 Thus wit augmented by experience, shall make me a generall man, fitte any way to profite my Common wealth. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny II. 547 A general man he was like himselfe still, that is to say, his craftsmaster in all, and as good in one thing as another. 1655 T. Stanley I. i. 101 Be generall. 1658 W. Sanderson 67 Hans Holbin who in all..Painting either in Oyle, Distemper, or Limning, was so generall an Artist, as never to follow any man, nor any one able to imitate him. 1697 K. Chetwood Life Virgil in J. Dryden tr. Virgil sig. **4v He became the most general Scholar that Rome ever bred. 1711 R. Steele No. 2. ⁋3 A general Trader of good Sense, is pleasanter Company than a general Scholar. 1744 M. Corbyn Ded. p. xxvii Our Merchants instead of being confined to particular Articles..began to be general Traders. 1840 J. S. Polack II. 254 Tanikáhá (pinus asplenifolius) g. coniferæ, is a very valuable species of pine, and extremely serviceable to the shipwright and general builder. 1883 Nov. 28/1 Here are the blacksmith's, the chemist's, the general merchants', and Kong Sam Kee, the Chinese laundryman's. 1894 E. Banks 168 Janie was a sort of general utility maid for everybody. 1957 R. Hoggart ii. 54 He has little call to move if he is a general labourer, and perhaps hardly more if he is skilled. 1983 C. Ozick (1984) 13 She had a household staff consisting of maids..cook, housekeeper, major-domo, chauffeur, personal maid, ‘traveling’ maid, secretary, ‘general agent’, footmen. 2001 21 July 22/4 (advt.) Mitchell's building services. General builder. Time served tradesman. the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [adjective] > affable 1596 sig. C2 Bid her be free and generall as the sunne. View more context for this quotation 1611 B. Jonson i. sig. C4 Are you coying it, When I command you to be free, and generall To all? View more context for this quotation 1630 J. Taylor iii. 107/1 She's generall, she's free, she's liberall Of hand and purse, she's open vnto all. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > not specified > general or miscellaneous 1592 T. Churchyard sig. A 3 A few voluntary verses to the general readers. 1639 N. N. tr. J. Du Bosc 23 To make good choice of those they meane to converse with more familiarly, and not to have a general acquaintance with persons of al sorts. 1650 W. Rowe Let. to Cromwell 28 Dec. in J. Nickolls (1743) 43 I have had some converse with him in general Society. 1737 E. Hoppus (ed. 2) 104 The general Sorts [of nails] are..Shidder Hobbs, Thick Hobbs, Clasp Hobbs. 1754 R. Denson i. 11 It is a magazine, or general store-house, where the product of every country is lodged, bought in very cheap, and often sold out very dear. 1778 T. Warton II. Emend. sig. i3v He [sc. Chatterton] will appear..to have acquired a store of general information far exceeding his years. 1808 J. Webster (new ed.) 6 The general class of society has become more interested in its pursuit. 1823 W. Scott I. vii. 148 In general society, they are like commercial people in presence of their customers. 1843 J. Murray Jrnl. 16 Oct. in (1927) 13 188/1 Having a general cargo on board, it perplexes my mind very much how to act. 1851 II. 254 Platform weighing machine..Railways, and for general weighing in warehouses. 1862 H. Spencer i. iv. §24 Not very intelligible to the general reader. 1863 C. Kingsley viii. 316 Tom told him that he did not know general information. 1895 73 156/2 The Kirkmichael left Liverpool with a general cargo on board. 1939 F. Thompson i. 9 The only shop was a small general one. 1969 Sept. 383/2 In this short book, intended for the general reader (though not for the innumerate one), a distinguished engineer describes how computers work. 2006 A. McCall Smith xiii. 136 ‘Anything,’ said Miranda. ‘Anything general. I'm happy to do anything. I'm not fussy, you see. No worries.’ II. As part of the designation of a person. 8. Having superior rank and comprehensive command or control. a. As postmodifier. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. 2804 (MED) At Rome..The vicair general of alle Of hem that lieven Cristes feith..He hihte Pope Nicolas. ?1430 in (1904) II. 32 That ye arn Vicar general in Inggelond of the worthy Prelate, the Abbot of Clunie. 1490 (1962) xlvi. 176 Made hym seneschall & his leeftenaunt generall of the royalme. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart II. f. cccxix. (colophon) Translated out of Frenche in to maternall Englysshe by..lorde Berners deputie generall of the kynges towne of Calais and marches of the same. 1547 J. Hooper Ep. Ded. sig. Aii. (heading) Prince Edwarde Duke of Somerset..Gouerner of the person of the Kynges Maiestie..tenent generall of all his Armyes, boothe by land and by sea. 1557 sig. A.ii Sathanas king of sorow, prince of darckenes and lord of Hel, Abbot of apostasie, of the order of ypocresie, prouost of pride, & prouincial generall of all mischiefe. a1661 T. Fuller (1662) Northampt. 287 [Henry VII] made Empson Promotor General, to press the Penal-Statutes all over the land. 1686 tr. J. Chardin (1927) 81 The Mehemander Bachy, or Guest-Keeper General. 1715 No. 5298/3 Alexander Inglis, Esq., to be Chyrurgeon-General of his Majesty's Forces. 1777 G. Washington Let. 26 Jan. in (1998) Revolutionary War Ser. VIII. 161 He..is also Waggon Master and Forage Master General. 1809 1 July 2/3 Mr. John Trotter, jun. the Storekeeper-General, and some of the other heads of departments, have gone to Portsmouth. 1841 W. Spalding III. 114 The Camera or Treasury, whose president, the Camerlengo, is assisted by the Auditor, the Treasurer-general, and Assessors. 1933 16 162 In his letters..to the Prepositor-General of the Society of Jesus, the Pope has deplored the government's course as to Jesuits. 1967 29 Apr. 477/1 A secret report on the labour market by the commissioner-general for national planning, M. Francois-Xavier Ortoli. 2004 16 July 21/1 The Chaplain-General of Prisons, the Ven. William Noblett, described restorative justice as the reappropriation of the Christian tradition. 1660 (title) The ladies champion confounding the author of the wandring whore, by Eugenius Theodidactus, powder-monkey, roguy-crucian, pimp-master-general. a1661 T. Fuller (1662) Norf. 258 The University..appointed Doctor Cranmer..to be the Poser-general of all Candidates in Divinity. 1747 J. Wesley 25 Mar. (1931) II. 95 A lifeless, unconverting minister is the murderer-general of his parish. 1755 J. Wesley (1872) II. 349 He is then a kind of jack-catch, an executioner-general. 1824 Countess Granville (1894) I. 285 The men are deplorable, which accounts for Mr. Chad being lover general at the Hague. 1870 W. F. Moulton tr. G. B. Winer iii. liii. 543 The assumption that καὶ in the N.T., as וְ in Hebrew, was the conjunction-general. 1959 F. Sondern vii. 111 The idea of the United States Navy approaching the exwhoremaster-general of New York—in prison at that—seemed too fantastic. 1993 J. Pournelle & S. M. Stirling 281 Declared to be among the enemies-general of human kind, to be dealt with as wolves are. 2004 H. Kennedy (2005) v. 136 This tainted his role as appointer-general of Queen's Counsel and judges: lawyers applying for appointments might think they were required to fork out. b. Prefixed to a title of office. society > authority > office > holder of office > [adjective] > other types of official generally 1400 (P.R.O.: C 145/276/14) Sor John Hulond presth general receyvour of the for seyd ȝurl receyvyd..þe a counptys off alle the lordschyppys for seyd. 1533–4 c. 16 §2 The Kinges generall attorney, and generall Solicitour, which for the time is. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria iii. xi. f. 161 For their generall gouernour, they elected Cortesius the gouernour of the nauye. 1613 S. Purchas 525 They have another generall Officer or chiefe Justice. 1629 in P. H. Brown (1901) 2nd Ser. III. 8 [Sir William Seatoun] generall postmaister to his Majestie throughout this haill kingdome. 1714 tr. 124 The 16th Article of the Lease of the General-Farmer as aforesaid. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart II. xcvii. f. cxi Sende them in to the marchesse of London, & make your generall capitayne the duke of Irelande. 1576 J. Sanford tr. L. Guicciardini (new ed.) 164 When Paulus Aemilius was generall Capytayne in Greece for the Romans. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny II. 483 Fabricius..forbad expressly, that any warriours and Generall captains should haue in plate more than one drinking boll or goblet, and a saltsellar. 1659 J. Rushworth 303 General Governour of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdom. a1698 W. Row Suppl. in R. Blair (1848) (modernized text) x. 271 They motioned in the Committee that John Hamilton should be general-major of the army. 1710 No. 4650/1 Then marched the Majors, Lieutenant-Colonels, Colonels, and General-Adjutants. 1882 46 473 When the General Field-Marshal..was but a captain in the general staff. 1937 9 475 Prince Ferdinand gave General Paprikov the title of general-adjutant. 1992 51 45/1 Hidalgo took up the banner of Guadalupe, giving the Virgin the title of ‘General Captain’ and parading the image around each of the city plazas. B. n. I. With reference to things, collective unities, etc. the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical classification > [noun] > a division, group, or class ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 131 (MED) Maculam..is in maner a kynd or generale [L. quodammodo genus] to trace or cicatrice. c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock (1921) 26 If oon of þo ij generalys be departid into two spicis of him, þan we mowe make noumbre of ij. 1551 T. Wilson sig. Bvv The chief general is so, that where as it is the head of al & aboue al, it can neuer become inferior, to be of any kinde or sort in thinges. 1628 T. Spencer 131 The generall is either supreame, or inferior. The speciall is either middlemost, or lowest. 1705 C. Purshall 82 From the various Combinations..of these Particles..Result the Three Great Generals, viz. Animals, Vegitables, and Minerals. the world > matter > colour > [noun] > names of various colours 1466 in (1841) 212 My mastyr paid to the clerke of Herwyche for ij li. generall to paynt wyth pavyses, iij. s. 1487–8 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark (1886) I. 412 ij li de colore fuluo anglice generall. 1510 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark (1886) II. 199 Certen coloures as in whiteled redled generall. 1545 sig. biijv Generall the C. pounde x.s. 1604 sig. C3v Druggs vocat... Generall the pound vi.d. 1678 (Dublin) 618 General the pound 00. 01 00. 3. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [noun] > a general class, point, proposition, or description society > communication > information > news or tidings > [noun] > general news 1550 R. Sherry sig. C.vi By the general the kynd: Eue the mother of al liuing things, for of al men. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria iii. iv. f. 110 Lette vs nowe therfore leaue these particulers, and speake sumwhat more of generals. 1566 T. Stapleton iii. 78 The deceitefull and wrangler walketh in generalles. 1583 A. Nowell et al. sig. H1v You must not bring a particular to ouerthrowe a generall. a1599 R. Rollock (1844) II. ix. 107 No man will lay down fairer generals out of the Word of God. 1627 in R. F. Williams (1848) (modernized text) I. 207 He desired to know his charge and accusers, but obtained no more at that time than this general, that [etc.]. a1635 R. Sibbes (1639) 156 It is enough to give you the generalls of the delights and excellencies of Gods house. 1643 W. Bridge i. 13 Then hee proceeds to propound three Generalls. 1646 A. Henderson in (1662) 173 Concerning the application of the Generalls of an Oath to the particular case now in hand. 1672 Bp. J. Wilkins 4 Reason..descendeth from generalles to specialles, and from them to particulars. a1693 M. Bruce (1708) 57 Now there is only one General I shall here mark for a Preface, and it is this. That [etc.]. 1702 I. i. 8 Those Accusations..are commonly stuffed with many odious Generals, that the Proofs seldom make good. 1703 W. Penn in (1870) IX. 270 To whom I refer thee as to generals and common news. 1753 S. Richardson VI. xxii. 118 My memory serves but for a few generals; and those I will not trouble you with. 1773 Ld. Monboddo (1774) I. i. i. 5 What therefore constitutes the essential part of language..is the expression of generals, or ideas. 1793 T. Beddoes 43 That perversion of the human understanding, which the study of generals occasioned. 1794 J. Hutton 142 The moment that an animal perceives in natural events a general, that moment natural philosophy is in his mind begun. 1803 W. Tennant II. 183 I am abundantly sensible..of keeping too much to generals in my description of the Hindoo farming. 1839 H. Hallam III. iii. 258 It is by means of our knowledge of particulars that we ascend to generals. 1864 F. C. Bowen viii. 233 Individual truths are proved by deduction from these generals. 1903 13 1 Jurisprudence deals more with generals. 1949 32 431 Adults are more likely to learn by the analysis of particulars from the generals, than by the induction of generals from particulars. 1998 49 350 Apart from the generals, there are some niggling particulars. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [noun] > that which is common to all 1609 W. Shakespeare i. iii. 180 All our abilities, guifts, natures shapes, Seueralls and generalls of grace exact. View more context for this quotation the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > [noun] > view or scenery > general or extensive 1612 J. Speed Contents Chorogr. Pt. Scotlands Kingdome in one Generall. society > education > educational administration > examination > examine [verb (intransitive)] > take specific exam 1616 J. Selden Notes R. de Hengham in R. Mulcaster tr. J. Fortescue 56 Ad Peruisum... It signifies an afternoons exercise or Moot, to the instruction of yong Students, bearing the same name originally (I ghesse) with the Paruisiae in Oxford, as they call their sitting Generalls in the scholes in the after noon. 1650 A. Wood (1891) I. 163 He answered Generals in the public schools, and James Bricknell opposed him. 1684 J. Wilding in C. R. L. Fletcher (1885) I. 260 For doing Generalls..00 03 00. 1774 J. Woodforde 20 Apr. (1981) I. 128 I went into the public Schools, and set over some young men doing generals. 1783 V. Knox (new ed.) I. lxxvii. 333 Another disputation almost exactly similar to doing generals, but called answering under batchelor. 1841 G. Peacock 74 In the university of Oxford, before..1800..the disputationes in Parviso were called doing generals. 1986 L. S. Sutherland & L. G. Mitchell V. xv. 471 In the eighteenth century the process was usually described as ‘doing Generals’. 1763 in (1917) 19 383 From this Sum..deduct the great General, which is Salt, Bait, Candles, Ballast, Boots etc... From the Crew's 5/8..is to be deducted the small General so called, being for Wood and Provisions of all Sorts, paid for by the Crew. 1823 W. Phillips I. iii. 56 The great general is supplied wholly by the owners, and includes the salt for curing the fish, the bait, premium of insurance, and some other small articles and expenses. 1904 2 425 Generals, n. Some of the expenses of a fishing voyage are divided equally among the crew, such as food and the cook's wages; these are called small generals. Other expenses are divided in proportion to each man's catch of fish, as bait, salt, and barrels; these are called great generals or big generals. 1925 J. D. Whidden xii. 116 In fitting out, the vessel found what was called the ‘big general’, consisting of beef and pork, bread, flour, bait, salt and water barrels, while each man furnished his small stores, known as the ‘small general’, his tea, coffee, sugar..and whatever his fancy dictated. 2005 J. R. H. Kimball iii. 31 Then each man's share of the ‘small generals’ (supplies for the crew, principally food) was deducted from his portion. 4. With the. the world > people > people collectively > [noun] > all people 1604 W. Shakespeare ii. ii. 440 The play I remember pleasd not the million, t'was cauiary to the generall . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. i. 12 I know no personall cause, to spurne at him, But for the generall . View more context for this quotation 1679 J. Dryden Ep. Ded. sig. A3v That which has been done already..must be digested into Rules and Method; before it can be profitable to the General. 1832 J. Austin iv. 115 The..individual persons who compose that public or general to which my attention is directed. 1880 B. Disraeli III. x. 99 He..understood all about rolling stock and permanent ways, and sleepers and branch lines, which were then cabalistic terms to the general. 1897 5 June 623/1 It has lessened the respect with which the House of Commons has hitherto been regarded by the general. 1922 D. G. Cooke iii. 65 He was always finding beautiful meanings in things regarded by the general as ignoble. the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > [noun] > the whole quantity, number, or amount 1608 E. Topsell 282 This must bee vnderstood of the generall. 1609 W. Shakespeare i. iii. 336 For the successe, Although perticuler shall giue a scantling Of good or bad vnto the generall . View more context for this quotation 1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Pref. sig. Aiij Nor is it to be expected the general will submit to a particular. 1771 F. Burney (1889) I. 131 The general [1988 generality] of people at his time of life are confined by infirmities. society > armed hostility > military organization > signals > [noun] > signal on instrument > signal on drums 1706 (new ed.) A General..a Beat of Drum so call'd [etc.]. 1708 No 4452/3 The French..did not beat their General 'till three a Clock in the Afternoon. 1749 H. Fielding III. vii. xv. 138 But hark, the General beats. View more context for this quotation a1794 S. Blamire in (1842) 4th Ser. 88 The drum has beat the General. 1825 Apr. 314 I..called to the Drummer to beat the General, which was instantly repeated by all the drums in the army. 1862 E. Schalk iv. 160 Scarcely, however, had they returned from their first expedition when the general was beaten on the other side of the river. 1957 20 159 The General was beat about an Hour after Midnight. II. As the designation of a person. 6. society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer by rank > [noun] > general 1548 W. Patten sig. A.i The duke of Somerset, my lord Protectors grace general of the armie, And Capitayn of the battaile. 1549 W. Thomas f. 18 The emperours for the space of .180. yeres, made continuall warres agaynste theym by theyr generalles, whom thei called Exarkes. 1566 W. Painter tr. O. Landi iii. f. 84v That Crowne was ordeined for Captaines and Generalles, that could conducte their souldiors to the warres, and retourne with them againe, without losse and effusion of bloud. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. ii. 8 Successe vnto our valiant Generall . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. iii. 1 The Generall of our horse thou art. View more context for this quotation 1646 G. Buck ii. 60 To..give the Earle, being Generall of his Forces, the Signall of a Combate. 1705 J. Addison 296 The War's old Art each private Soldier knows, And with a Gen'rals Love of Conquest glows. 1736 J. Thomson 699 Prevail'd the General-King, and Chieftain-Thanes. 1781 in T. Simes (ed. 3) 5 Many of our Generals..are either dead, too old, or too infirm, to undergo the fatigues of war. 1824 W. Irving I. 206 I was like a general looking down upon a place he expects to conquer. 1825 J. Neal III. 128 They spurred along..and led off their general in chief by main force from the field. 1886 J. R. Seeley vi. 228 It [Waterloo] was perhaps on both sides rather a soldiers' than a general's battle. 1915 J. Turner Let. 15 July in C. Warren (2019) 17 The general in khaki in the car was heavy and grey and worn. 1940 D. Wheatley xxii. 265 Our Generals had so little imagination that the drill was always just the same and..the Germans got quite used to it. 1991 J. Chang (1993) i. 39 My grandmother had been rather taken with the general's handsome, martial demeanor. 2018 H. H. Cox iii. 17 Lee went with General Wood when the general was summoned to Washington. society > armed hostility > war > war as profession or skill > [noun] > tactics > strategist or tactician 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch 273 Aemilius like a wise generall foreseeing by the daunger of this skirmishe..came out of his tent, and passing by the bandes, dyd encorage them. a1625 J. Fletcher Mad Lover i. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher (1647) sig. B/1 A man indeed; a Generall Generall, A soule conceiv'd a Souldier. 1707 J. Addison 23 The Generals on the Enemy's side..in the Eyes of their own Nation..are inferior to several that have formerly commanded the French armies. 1720 D. Defoe 288 He was a compleat General. 1781 in T. Simes (ed. 3) 5 It is experience that makes the General. 1843 W. H. Prescott III. vii. v. 354 Cortéz was certainly a great general. 1866 C. Kingsley I. xviii. 341 He began praising..his skill as a general. 1900 17 Sept. 4/2 When Joubert died the English frankly recognized him as a great general. 1990 8 Othello is presented..as a soldier of supreme prowess and experience, as a general of unrivalled calibre. society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > leader 1582 J. Yates f. 58 Thy Guerdon abydes in howling hel, Where Lucifer chiefe generall of the land, Is readie there to shake thee by the hand. 1599 W. Shakespeare v. iii. 218 Then will I be generall of your woes, And leade you euen to death. View more context for this quotation 1609 W. Shakespeare cliv. sig. K So the Generall of hot desire, Was sleeping by a Virgin hand disarm'd. View more context for this quotation 1613 S. Purchas I. vii. iii. 560 The worthiest Generall..against Errour that ever we have had. 1770 P. Stockdale in tr. T. Tasso Pref. p. x Homer had his Zoïlus, and Pope his Dennis, two generals of these pigmy troops. 1893 W. Forbes-Mitchell 223 The provost-marshal's cat is the only general to restore order in times like those. 1897 19 May 2/1 The fighting men in genuine strenuous party warfare are somebodies, and their generals understand and never fail to remember it. 1906 17 19 The ambitions of strong men, statesmen and generals of industry or war. 1993 11 Jan. 49/1 Seeking an answer to what's ailing business, the generals of industry..hit upon a novel idea: the federal deficit ought to be cut. 1855 10 Mar. 95 Russia has two generals in whom she can confide—Generals Janvier and Fevrier. 1860 J. Parton II. xix. 239 Generals January and February, as the late Emperor Nicholas remarked, will suffice for them. 1908 R. Kipling (1920) 159 Here, General January will stiffen him up. 1919 20 ‘General Janvier’ is doing his worst, but our men are sticking it out through slush and slime. 1926 B. Pares xviii. 339 Nicholas had placed his hopes in ‘General January’ and ‘General February’, that is to say in the severity of a Russian winter. 1966 A. Firth v. 63 When the crunch came in 1941 he [sc. Stalin] owed a good deal to General Winter. 1967 D. G. Chandler xiv. lxxi. 815 Time was playing into the hands of the Russians by bringing ‘General Winter’ even closer. 1999 (Nexis) 1 Jan. 11 Generals Janvier and Fevrier,..hold the capital of Russia's Far East in their icy grasp. society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > various Christian superiors > [noun] > Salvation Army 1879 25 Sept. 1/2 The converts join what they call the Salvation Army, the leader of which is styled a General. 1883 26 If the General were to be removed by death to-morrow, his successor, without a minute's delay, would step into his position. 1884 W. Booth (1890) 18 Go to the crowd of sinners, or spot them individually..because out of them you may make Lieutenants, and Captains, and Majors, and Generals. 1886 W. Booth 165 The General must and will appoint his own successor—each successive General doing the same. 1959 XII. 177/1 The general..no longer has the right of nominating his successor. 1988 (Nexis) 11 Nov. 2 General Eva Burrows serves as the head of the Salvation Army. society > faith > church government > monasticism > religious superior > [noun] 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane xxi. f. cccxxii One Romeus generall of the Austen Friers at Rome wrote againste it for the same purpose. 1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger xxxix. 256 The master of the whole order [of Fryers minors], whome they call general, hath ben hearde many times, to offer the pope..thirtie thousand fighting men. 1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in 382 He is an English man, generall or prouinciall of Friers preachers. 1601 W. Watson 22 It would seeme a very strange matter to the Prouinciall or generall of that societie. 1687 No. 2263/1 The 6th Instant the Jesuits chose for the General of their Order, Father Thyrso Gonzales a Spaniard. 1728 E. Chambers at Minister The General of the Cordeliers Order is also called the Minister General. 1756 A. Butler II. 650 The saint wrote earnestly to the general of the Society, desiring to be employed on a mission to the barbarous Hurons and Iroquois in Canada. a1843 R. Southey (1849) 2nd Ser. 43/2 The blessed Jordan..who was the second general of the Dominicans [etc.]. 1869–70 H. Vaughan iii. 17 After the Bishops came the mitred Abbots..with the Generals of the Religious Orders. 1911 XV. 339/2 It is said that the general of the Jesuits is independent of the pope; and his popular name, ‘the black pope’, has gone to confirm this idea. 1992 (Nexis) 16 Dec. Special places had also been set apart for the Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops, the Chapter of St Peter's, and the generals of the religious Orders. society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > seafaring warrior or naval man > leader or commander > [noun] > naval officer > flag officer > admiral 1578 G. Best ii. 14 Our General rowed thither with hys boates, to make proofe thereof, and with his goldfiners to searche for Ore. 1589 5 The Generall commaunded all the Pinnaces with the ship boates to be manned. 1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten i. i. 3/1 A great nauie of ships was prepared in Lisbone, whose generall was the Marquesse de sancta Cruce. 1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto ii. 3 A Fleet of five Ships, whereof there was no General. 1702 No. 3829/2 The Count de Tholouse, Great Admiral of France, is made General of all the Naval Forces of Spain. society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun] > general 1884 10 May 6/1 Poor little generals, fighting the daily fight against dirt and dust. 1889 2 Nov. 593/2 Liza is a true London ‘general’, not a Cornish lass, as her disloyalty to her young mistress shows. 1941 P. Carr iv. 98 It would only be quite humble folk who would be content with a ‘general’—that is to say, one servant. 1998 W. Webster vii. 156 Unless a ‘daily’ was employed the loss of a ‘general’ meant doing housework which had previously been regarded as ‘the rough’. Phrases P1. As noun in titles of rank. a. society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > [noun] > commander-in-chief 1548General of the armie [see sense B. 6a]. 1654 S. Lennard tr. S. Mazzella i. 41 He was in great account with Pope Paul the fourth, by whom he was created in Rome Purveyor of the Store, and General of the Army. 1793 22 Mar. 2 The Duke of Biron, Marshall of France: the Duke of Choifeul, General of the Army. 1880 L. Wallace iv. xii. 246 And when a consul, general of the army, king, or visiting potentate of any kind arrived at Antioch, quarters were at once assigned him on the island. 1944 9 Dec. 9/6 (heading) New top rankings voted for services. 4 ‘Generals of the Army’ and 4 ‘Admirals of the Fleet’ created in House bill. 1976 13 Oct. 12/4 He replaces General of the Army Sergei Shtemenko, another Soviet officer. 2007 (Nexis) 13 Dec. a4 Bradley rose to general of the Army in 1950, only the ninth man to achieve that five-star rank. b. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio i. 25 Diego de Sosa was made Generall at the sea [It. Dell' armata di mare fece generale Diego di Sosa]. 1660 King Charles II in (1704) III. xvi. 585 To Our Trusty and Well-beloved General Monk, and General Mountague, Generals at Sea, to be communicated to the Fleet. 1717 tr. A. F. Frézier 198 The General of the Sea, or Admiral. 1847 1 153 Charles, Earl of Nottingham, Admiral, General of the Sea, accompanied with Lords, Knights, and Gent, made a..voyage into Spain. 1883 2 Aug. 5/6 It will be placed close to the busts..of three of England's worthies, all natives of the same county—namely, Locke, Blake (Admiral and General at Sea) and Pym. 1935 26 June 9/7 The letters of Robert Blake, General at Sea, will also be published in the near future. 1988 D. A. Thomas ii. 44 It was in the second half of the seventeenth century that the line of battle was introduced, demonstrating the influence of the Generals-at-sea. c. 1938 5 Feb. 12/1 Seven generals of the Army and six generals of the Air Force who will retire from active service [in Germany]. 1940 21 June 6 Rear-Admiral Leluc, and General of the Air Force Bergeret—have acted merely as agents to receive the terms and to bring them back to their government. 1980 124 259/1 The MX missile system is being organized and promoted on the ground by a general of the Air Force. 2007 (Nexis) 27 June General of the Air Force Henry H. ‘Hap’ Arnold, World War II commander of the Army Air Forces and the only Airman to hold a five-star rank. P2. As noun, in various adverbial phrases. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > in general [phrase] > in general terms or not in detail 1617 ix. 225 As to the generall, I insisted in it before; and therefore I shall be the shorter. 1654 E. Wolley tr. ‘G. de Scudéry’ 157 Although the Sea do give leave that some few Fountains do break up, and so water some places of the earth, yet she is unthankful as to the general, and leaveth many vast parts, for want of moisture, to be altogether steril and barren. 1744 E. Haywood (1748) I. 115 The maxim questionless is just as to the general, but [etc.]. 1745 E. Haywood (1748) IV. 110 Now these reflections, however just as to the general, are certainly the contrary as to particulars. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > in general [phrase] > for the most part 1581 R. Mulcaster xvi. 74 What then? for the generall, seing thinges which man vseth, cannot be quite free from misuse, it is halfe a vertue to winne so much, as there be as litle misuse, as may be. 1615 G. Sandys 77 The other halfe Iewes and Christians, and those for the generall Grecians. 1645 T. Fuller ii. xi. 92 A loyall Subject for the generall, though he was no favourite in these particulars. 1751 Bp. W. Warburton (1809) 85 Booksellers..know mankind, for the general, better than authors. 1766 F. Blackburne 31 The Doctors..for the general, have been so tame in the controversy, that [etc.]. c. in general. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > in general [phrase] the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > that is all or the whole [phrase] > all collectively en masse a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vi. l. 2 (MED) The grete Senne original, Which every man in general Upon his berthe hath envenymed. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) i. l. 163 And to þe temple yn al here goodly best wyse In general þere went many a wight. a1500 (a1450) (Trin. Cambr.) l. 1691 They dede his pleasure to obeye, Theder they came ichon in generall. ?1518 sig. B.iiijv I wyll reherse here in generall The indulgences that ye haue shall. 1576 A. Fleming tr. G. Macropedius in 366 Let not the confidence of your friendes in general, be deceived. 1583 P. Stubbes sig. E2v Commons..or free places of feeding for the poore and others, euen all ingenerall. 1609 W. Shakespeare iv. vi. 22 Twere better shee were kist in general . View more context for this quotation 1651 J. Collier tr. J. A. Comenius 16 Pansophy therefore by wholesome Counsel takes all things in generall into its consideration, that it may evidently and most clearly appeare, how lesser things are, and come to be, subordinate to the greater. 1728 E. Chambers at Jansenism It is Semi-Pelagianism to say, that Jesus Christ died, or shed his Blood for all Men in general. 1780 W. Tooke tr. J. G. Georgi II. 352 All in general are fond of their toutmatsch, or mashed flesh made into balls, and their bisch sata, hashed meat mixed with parched corn. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. l. 2507 As forto speke in general. 1493 (de Worde) To Rdr. sig. *2v/2 As ferforth as I dare or know of temptacyons, I will shewe you in specyall & in general. 1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i, in 112/1 Somwhat wold I speke of Luther, & his secte ingenerall. 1571 G. Buchanan sig. A.2v Baith to zour lordschippis in speciall, and in generall to the haill communitie. 1662 E. Stillingfleet ii. vii. §1 Whether a Divine Law in generall, or the Law of Moses in particular may be abrogated. 1711 J. Addison No. 62. ¶7 Which..is not so properly a Definition of Wit, as of good writing in general. 1712 W. Rogers 318 The Air in general is mild, temperate and healthful. 1774 O. Goldsmith VI. 317 Of Spinous Fishes in General. 1812 H. Davy 71 The expansive power of liquids in general is greater than that of solids. 1893 June 78/1 The appointment..gave great dissatisfaction to the English world of letters in general and to Cary in particular. 1907 in C. von Noorden et al. III. 701 It is the opinion of clinicians in general that castrated men, and women on whom ovariotomy has been performed, show a tendency towards obesity. 1940 25 203 Most of the songs, like peasant songs in general, have a melancholic, plaintive quality. 1992 7 Mar. 66/3 His government is desperate to show that it is doing something urgent about the economy in general, and pay packets in particular. the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > that is all or the whole [phrase] > in respect of everything or part > in every respect a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) v. l. 822 She..was..goodly of here speche in general. 1609 W. Shakespeare i. 171 Thou art a graue and noble Counseller, Most wise in generall . View more context for this quotation 1614 T. Lorkin Let. in R. F. Williams (1848) (modernized text) I. 346 If they had..not proceeded to personal invectives, and mutinous and seditious speeches against his majesty,..his favourites, and..the Scots in general. the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > in habitual or customary use [phrase] > usually or ordinarily 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. FFFiii I shall in general, gather certayne scrappes & cromes that holy doctors hath left behynde them in writyng. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. vi. xvii. 123 The Persians were wont to call them [sc. Scythians] in generall Sacas, of a people adjoining unto them, so named. 1657 S. Titus 12 What are the people in Generall but Knaues, Fooles, and Cowards; principled for Ease, vice, and Slavery? 1726 G. Shelvocke xiii. 393 Our wild visitors, who behaved themselves in general very quietly and peaceably. 1765 W. Blackstone I. 191 It is in general hereditary, or descendible to the next heir, on the death or demise of the last proprietor. 1851 IV. 963 The curled maple..is met with where the common or sugar maple grows, but in general more on rocky ground. 1863 H. Cox iii. viii. 703 Not [required] to serve abroad, nor in general to go out of their own counties. 1908 J. Mann 4 Timbers in which the grain is closely twisted and interwoven, are in general very hard, dense, and heavy. 1940 M. Tornich App. C. 122 In general, a magnetic compass is composed of magnetic needles which align themselves with the earth's magnetic field. 1987 R. A. Thompson & L. S. Thompson i. i. 51 Overspecialization, in general, is unhealthy. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > in general [phrase] > in general terms or not in detail 1621 R. Burton i. iii. i. ii. 237 If two talke together..or tell a tale in generall, he thinks presently they meane him. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > in general [phrase] > in general terms or not in detail 1584 J. Rainolds & J. Hart iii. 126 In the general, to signifie the common charge of al such, as do teach the word and feede the flocke of God. 1620 286 This course, in the generall, is to be esteemed..a prouident one. 1621 S. Ward (1627) 43 You haue said much in the generall of Doing: what say you in particular to this Nation? a1676 M. Hale (1677) 289 This Opinion is in the general true. a1693 M. Bruce (1708) 4 As long as thou thinks [sic] it spoken in the General, or to another Person, thou can get no good of it. 1748 S. Richardson VII. xxiii. 95 Your observation in the general is undoubtedly just. 1806 R. Cumberland (1807) II. 203 It is only true in some particular instances, not in the general. 1834 J. H. Newman (1837) I. xiii. 200 It is easy to speak of human nature as corrupt in the general. 1860 J. H. Newman (1891) II. 105 What occurred in the event I recollect well enough in the general. P3. As adjective, in various adverbial phrases. the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > in habitual or customary use [phrase] > usually or ordinarily 1660 H. Jeanes 358 They doe not pitch upon the true, and only good; yet they desire, in a generall way, to be happy. 1745 P. Thomas 144 Nor does this Distemper, in a general Way, incline People to Indolence, till [etc.]. 1806 W. Pontey 235 As a general rule, we think summer is preferable to winter-pruning. 1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton III. x. xx. 201 I guess you are right there, as a general rule. 1913 3 26/2 One or two features which do not..as a general rule appear in drawings of mediæval shipping. 1943 18 154 As a general rule the male cells mature in advance of the female cells. 2002 T. Verderosa iii. 101 As a general rule, House music uses more vocals and harmonic elements and Techno uses more tribal rhythms with special analog synthesizer sounds. Compounds1860 10 May 294 These are the ‘general utility’ men, as they are sometimes facetiously called by those whose genius is not quite so versatile. 1888 J. C. Harris 127 One of the many ‘general-utility’ men that improved methods enable the high schools and colleges to turn out. 1909 11 Feb. 3/3 The largest fruit and general produce merchants in New York. 1909 3 Apr. 16/4 As the president of this excellent club, he spoke of the good trout and general-fish waters it leased on the Surrey Wey. 1909 28 Aug. 16/4 The Thames is in good condition, and general-fish anglers are promised a continuance of sport. 1911 F. O. Bower 58 It served as a general-purposes shoot. 1923 R. Kipling 143 A general-utility shed. 1966 3 Nov. 668/1 German's generation was content with one general-purposes ‘olde’ manner. 1971 14 Jan. 1/3 The ‘Women's Guardian’..has become one of the liveliest general interest pages in daily journalism. 2006 Apr. 38/3 The annual Aventis Prizes honor each year's best general-audience and children's popular science books. C2. 1936 H. Selye in 4 July 32/2 Since the syndrome as a whole seems to represent a generalised effort of the organism to adapt itself to new conditions, it might be termed the ‘general adaptation syndrome’. 1974 V. B. Mountcastle et al. (ed. 13) I. xxxi. 832/1 A great deal has been written about reaction to stress, and these reactions have been described as producing a ‘general adaptation syndrome’. 2000 Feb. 91/1 Scientists speculate that we are increasingly experiencing a ‘general adaptation syndrome’. This syndrome has three phases: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. 1792 23 Feb. To be sold for four guineas each, two general admission tickets for Drury Lane play house. 1869 15 Nov. 12/5 Grand Matinee... General admission, 60 cents. 1931 18 Sept. i. 12/1 The company..has arranged with fair officials for a reduced general admission into the event when the ticket is purchased in connection with Motor Transit or Pacific Electric tickets. 1984 51 182 Colleges typically offer a schedule of ticket prices..differentiating reserved seating from general admission seating. 2006 (Nexis) 18 Dec. b4 Those paying general admission to the Geo Centre can visit ‘Dinosaurs and Company’ at no additional charge. the mind > language > languages of the world > Indo-Hittite > [noun] > Indo-European > Germanic > English > American English 1925 G. P. Krapp II. i. 29 A clear parallel..between Western or General American English and northern British English. 1928 17 455 Three main types of cultivated American English are recognized by authorities... They are the Eastern, the Southern, and the Western or General American. 1934 Introd. p. xxvi/1 In America three main types of cultivated speech are distinguishable:..(3) the variously named Western, Midwestern, or General American. 1934 Introd. p. xxvi/1 The fact that more speakers in the English-speaking world habitually use the General American than any other single type cannot vitiate the standing of the Southern British..for the educated Englishman. 1947 C. K. Thomas xxii. 171 Eastern New England, the New York City area, the South, and the General American area clearly speak according to..different standards. 1971 47 238 The General American dialect of the speaker in the film does not have lax vowels in open syllables. 1993 June 20/1 General American, the most widespread mode of speech in the U.S.A., prevails, generally, in New York State west of the Hudson, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the states of the Middle West and the Far West. society > faith > church government > ecclesiastical discipline > court > presbyterian > [noun] > general assembly 1550 T. Nicolls tr. Thucydides i. xiii. f.xl The thynges that we haue shewed youe here in generall assemblie. 1565 (title) The ordour and doctrine of the generall faste, appoynted be the Generall Assemblie of the Kirkes of Scotland. Halden at Edinburgh the 25, day of December. 1565. 1619 Jrnl. 4 Aug. in (1915) 15 It is fully agreed att this Generall Assembly, that..every man & manservant of above 16 yeares of age shall pay into the handes & Custody of the Burgesses..one pound of the best Tobacco. 1621 in W. W. Hening (1823) I. 112 The other council..shall consist..of the said council of state, and of two burgesses out of every town, hundred, or other particular plantation..which council shall be called The General Assembly. 1645 G. Gillespie 20 The order of the Church of Scotland, and the Acts of generall Assemblies, are for keeping off all scandalous Persons. 1776 29 May Index 46 The General Assembly appointed the clerks to cause print copies of the act respecting the age of ruling elders. 1859 May 748/2 The General Assembly convented at James City..consisting of the Governor, the Council of Estate, and two Burgesses elected out of each incorporated plantation. 1871 H. Moncrieff (1877) 65 It is competent for any Presbytery to transmit what is called an Overture, either to the Provincial Synod or to the General Assembly. 1944 7 Nov. 5/5 The General Assembly of the United Nations Organization proposed at Dumbarton Oaks need not..be so lacking in influence and importance. 1958 Apr. 47 Daniel Lyman, a member of the General Assembly, a former Steward of the college and, since 1760, a justice of the peace. 2002 K. Matinuddin x. 199 The general debate of the First Committee of the 53rd Session of the UN General Assembly, on 20 October 1998. society > travel > air or space travel > [noun] > a flight through air or space > other types of flight 1952 61 404/1 Two years ago approximately half the fatal accidents in general aviation were caused by stall-spins. 2001 Feb. 82/1 The work currently being done to improve General Aviation aircraft. 1947 (Secondary Schools Exam. Council) 6 It is because the ‘Ordinary’ and ‘Advanced’ papers have fundamentally the same qualifying purpose..and because we wish them to be available to candidates who are not ‘at school’ that we have proposed the single certificate and offered the title ‘General Certificate of Education’. 1947 (Secondary Schools Exam. Council) 8 A ‘General Certificate of Education’ should be awarded showing the subjects (and the level—‘Ordinary’ or ‘Advanced’—in each subject) in which the candidate has satisfied the examiners. 1955 28 June 5/3 It is hoped to establish courses leading to the General Certificate of Education, for pupils who need the G.C.E. to qualify for professional training. 1998 (Nexis) 18 Aug. 13 The General Certificate of Education is a child of the 1950s, designed for grammar schools. 1978 24 Oct. 8/3 Children now aged nine are likely to be the first to take the new examination—provisionally to be called the General Certificate of Secondary Education. 2007 (Nexis) 17 Aug. a13 Nowadays, our children's intellectual worth is weighed by means of GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and A-levels. the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > global system 1796 O. Gregory xvii. 92 A general circulation of air constantly takes place between the eastern and western hemispheres. 1810 J. Lambert III. xlviii. 473 I am of the opinion that this general circulation of newspapers throughout America, tends very much to the instruction of the country people. 1899 25 166 Schemes and discussions concerning the general circulation of the atmosphere. 1928 D. Brunt iv. 26 We find the movement of the winds of the globe form a system which is much simpler in appearance than might have been expected by one accustomed only to the variability of weather in the British Isles. This system is called the ‘general circulation’ of the atmosphere. 2004 (Nexis) 9 Sept. Print advertisements will run in general circulation and college newspapers. society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > builder > [noun] > employer or supervisor 1841 12 June 11/4 William Sim, Glasgow, general contractor. 1977 J. Wilton-Ely in S. Kostof 193 The advent of the general contractor..profoundly affected the historic tripartite relationship between client, designer, and craftsman. 2007 16 Feb. w10/4 Affluent homeowners who won't get their hands dirty but try to save a little money by acting as designers and general contractors for their projects. society > law > legal profession > lawyer > [noun] > legal representative or agent > specific 1849 T. Slidell in 3 653 The sole facts upon which the plaintiff relies in argument are, that Frost was, as proved by a witness, McNeill's general counsel up to the time of his leaving the State in 1840. 1853 W. Pinkney 109 I am the general counsel of the Union Bank, and had, moreover, undertaken for it this cause in particular, having no idea that after the return of your retainer, with your own previous assent, there was, or could be any objection to my doing so. 1869 4 June There has recently been some change in the arrangement of the officers of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company... Joseph Leslay has been appointed Secretary,..Theodore Cuyler, General Counsel. 1941 A. W. Macmahon et al. ii. 46 Jerome Frank, then general counsel for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, participated briefly in the proceedings. 2006 (Nexis) 23 Oct. The company dismissed its general counsel..as a result of the investigation. 1736 M. Bacon II. 7 There is a verdict for the Plaintiff, and general Damages given. 1776 13 Mr. Attorney General. Do you go for special damages? Mr. Alleyne. No, general damages. 1838 P. B. Leigh I. 171 Money may be paid into court where the action is brought for a sum certain or capable of being ascertained by computation, but not in an action for general damages. 1888 14 June 1/6 It cannot be maintained for the recovery of general damages, such as loss of a husband, mental anguish, etc. 1920 Aug. 238/1 The drawer of the check is entitles to recover general damages from the bank, without proving that he has sustained actual damage as a result of the bank's refusal. 1959 59 1185 Special damages are generally distinguished from general damages in that the former result from unusual circumstances. 2016 (Nexis) 25 Nov. Mr Millar is claiming general damages for harm to his reputation and professional standing. society > trade and finance > trader > [noun] 1709 R. Steele No. 101 He was a general Dealer, and had his Amusements, as well comical as serious. 1830 J. F. Cooper II. iii. 47 A man whose misdeeds in commerce are as universally noted, as the stoppage of a general dealer. 1859 13 Dec. 3/1 The general-dealer opposite..is opening his shop. 1891 29 Oct. 2/1 Costers and hucksters and those not too particular buyers who are euphemistically known as ‘general dealers’. 1976 14 147 The location of the general dealer's store is often a function of both the population concentration and the road network. 1994 Jan. 20 In the small-town tradition of general dealers, owners Tania and Marty Reddering sell fashion, decor and lifestyle accessories. 1846 14 130 The polite and faithful attendants in the general delivery department belong to this gang. 1902 §636 Letters having as a part of their address the words ‘Transient’, ‘To be called for’:..must be placed in general delivery. 2008 (Nexis) 17 Mar. 7 Newcomers picking up their mail, before they have a post office box, when they are using ‘general delivery’. society > authority > office > appointment to office > choosing or fact of being chosen for office > election of representative body by vote > [noun] > general election c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece xv. vii. f. ccxxiiiiv/2 At thair cumyng to Edinburgh was ane conuentioun of the lordis. The erle of Murray and Robert stewart with generall electioun war chosyn gouernouris.] 1640 W. Habington 194 His intention, immediatly to possesse himselfe of the Crowne, with destruction of King Edward and his children by pretention of a generall election of the Commonweale. 1687 E. Halley Let. 24 Feb. in I. Newton (1960) II. 469 I am bold to say that I serve them to their satisfaction, though 6 of 38, last generall Election day, did their endeavour to have put me by. 1764 J. Wesley Oct. (1931) IV. 271 Before you see me again the trial will come at the General Election for Members of Parliament. 1800 J. Jay (1893) IV. 266 The approaching general election in this State will be unusually animated. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. ii. 174 Early in 1661 took place a general election. 1990 P. Taylor viii. 205 Why did a nominee who had seemed so sure-footed in winning his nomination turn so lame once the general election began? society > faith > aspects of faith > Bible, Scripture > Testament > New Testament > epistle > [noun] > Catholic 1560 f. 113v (heading) The General Epistle of Iude. 1611 f. 539v The Generall Epistle of Iames. 1775 E. Burke 13 Here, Sir, is a canonical book of ministerial scripture; the general epistle to the Americans. 1841 1 Nov. 7/2 The Regius Professor of Divinity will commence a private course of lectures on the General Epistle of St. Peter. 1911 32 230 Is it not written in the General Epistle of Jude, ‘Twice dead are they, plucked up by the roots’? 1956 49 194 This sacrament is based on the general Epistle of James. society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > military position > [noun] > headquarters a1711 R. Bulstrode (1721) 108 The King's General Head Quarters were settled at Buconnock. 1810 5 June 358/1 General Head-Quarters at Utrecht, May 13. 1859 54 The infantry of the guard followed general head-quarters to Castenedolo. 1859 54 General head-quarters..moved to Montechiaro. 1914 3 Oct. 8/2 The Press Bureau..issued the following descriptive account, which has been communicated by an eye-witness present with General Headquarters. 1999 (Nexis) 1 Feb. The current commander of the General Headquarters has many more opportunities to stick to this strategy than any other security minister. the world > health and disease > [noun] > of community 1819 in A. Clarke (1821) v. 97 It does not seem to hurt my general health; my appetite is good. 1870 Mar. 67 So numerous are the forms which charitable relief assumes, that it would be next to impossible to analyse their separate influence on the general health. 1951 E. M. Gravelius (ed. 9) xx. 240 The general health plays an important part in the recovery from skin complaints. 1999 25 May 27/2 The red in tomatoes contains lycopene, an active anti-cancer agent, and carrots contain beta carotene to boost general health. 1616 J. Selden Notes on Fortescue in J. Fortescue 33 The defendants plead, in effect, the general issue. 1768 W. Blackstone III. 305 These pleas are called the general issue, because, by importing an absolute and general denial of what is alleged in the declaration, they amount at once to an issue. 1824 H. J. Stephen 175 In Trespass on the case (in the species of assumpsit), the general issue is called the plea of non assumpsit. 1872 20 293 The defendant pleads the general issue. 1929 38 826 A plea of the general issue has been held sufficient to require the plaintiff to prove that the insured had complied with the condition of ‘delivery in good health’. 1987 5 515 On the general issue being pleaded, the jury brought in a general verdict. the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > activities of God > [noun] > trial or punishment by 1479 Earl Rivers tr. (Caxton) ii. ii Our Lorde my God shal come, and his seyntes with hym..To the generall Iugement. 1533 W. Tyndale f. 23 He..rose agen frome dethe in siche a glorifyed body now immortall..as euery one of vs shall ryse in at the general iudgement. 1610 J. Donne iii. 111 The Fathers being diuided in their opinions, whether our soules enioyed perfect happinesse presently, or expected and attended it till the generall iudgement. 1743 W. Worthington xiii. 365 The general Judgment is constantly throughout the Scriptures, joyn'd with the End of the World. 1822 25 July 1/2 His natural body became a spiritual body.., which will be the case with all the righteous found upon the earth at the general judgment. 1961 E. Waugh 9 June (1982) 567 The Last or General Judgement is something quite different... The Christians of the first century seem to have expected it momentarily. 2007 (Nexis) 17 Feb. e14 One is accustomed..to associate the general judgment with other events at the end of time, notably Christ's Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead. the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > intellectual command, mastery > [noun] > broad knowledge or view c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 95 And thus js jt wele esy to knawe, yat bataill is a thing lefull and resonable tobe done as generale knaulage may be vnderstandin.] 1606 T. Palmer ii. 126 Thus much concerning those sixe pointes of generall knowledge, that accomplish the peregrination of men, and make them compleate in knowledge of thinges. 1751 S. Johnson No. 153. ⁋4 That application which had hitherto been dissipated in general knowledge. 1820 W. Hazlitt in 2 250/2 Books of liberal taste and general knowledge. 1834 G. Crabbe in I. iv. 97 The fund of general knowledge which my father gradually showed..much surprised his patron. 1906 25 Jan. 4/7 A Scriptural general knowlege paper. 1938 F. B. Young (1940) iii. 124 That same Act of Parliament..had decreed that a medical student, before registration, must first pass an examination in General Knowledge. 1952 G. Raverat iv. 65 When I went away to school, [I] was asked in a General Knowledge Paper, which were my three favourite composers. society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] > account book > ledger 1732 No. 68. 264 When the Proprietors paid in upon their Shares, to give them Credit in the Stock Ledgers, and a General Ledger. 1882 Mar. 773/2 The general ledger contains a summary of the entire business. 1957 2 Nov. 418 An extremely versatile accounting machine... Sales, purchase, and general ledgers—..it will do them all! 2004 (National ed.) 15 Aug. iv. 9/4 (advt.) Senior Accountant... Reconcile AP, Payroll and AR subledger systems with general ledger. 1784 E. Middleton III. 259 To be a great philosopher, mathematician, historian, or hebrician,..to be a physician, lawyer, general linguist. 1840 XVI. 217/2 He would have deserved to be mentioned among the general linguists whose attainments have from time to time astonished the world. His father..states that he was then acquainted with twenty languages. 1904 12 392 Precisely analogous is the dependence of the comparative linguist upon the general linguist. 2000 B. Heine & D. Nurse i. 3 We hope it will be of interest to other audiences, such as general linguists or cognitivists who know little of the African situation. 1863 Apr. 332 This part of his work will, of course, be of special interest to the student of general linguistics and ethnology. 1892 7 231/2 Von der Gabelentz, ‘Sprachwissenschaft’ is intended as an introduction to general linguistics. 1974 R. Quirk v. 84 ‘Developmental’ and ‘general’ philology—or, as we would usually call them today, historical and general linguistics. 2003 62 426 These critical remarks should not detract from our overall assessment of the monograph as a much-needed contribution to both sociolinguistics and general linguistics. 1765 J. Symon 29 Nov. 6 In the Ist place, he still continued to be Symon's general manager and adviser;..by this means, any funds that Symon was possessed of passed through his hands. 1857 C. Dickens 13 July (1995) VIII. 377 The General Manager..will arrange all the preliminaries for me. 1927 29 Nov. 17/7 The new general manager [of the Cleveland Indians] will direct the activities of the scouts and..put through deals for players. 1928 3 49 The entire work of the controller may be thought of as advisory to the general manager and to other departmental heads. 2005 13 June (Central ed.) a13/2 The NBA is littered with..too many coaches and general managers with no real leverage to get the players to improve performance. 1843 6 117/2 From the councils of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons..are to be chosen the medical members of a central or general medical council, to which is to be confided the superintendence and control of the entire profession.] 1858 16 Oct. 3/7 As many may be at a loss to understand what this ‘General Medical Council’ is..we may briefly explain the nature and constitution of this new medical body. 1877 14 102 The registrability of Midwifery Licenses..has been brought under the notice of Her Majesty's Government by the General Medical Council. 1933 22 Dec. 15/1 The cablegram contained an intimation..that the General Medical Council had erased his name from the medical register for ‘infamous conduct in a professional respect.’ 2014 W. Levinson et al. v. 87 Parents of some of the children complained to the General Medical Council (GMC) which..opened an investigation into events in Bristol. society > society and the community > social relations > association for a common purpose > meeting or assembling for common purpose > [noun] > a meeting > types of 1565 J. Jewel iv. 241 This priuilege graunted vnto the Bishop of Rome, to be the firste of al Priestes, was not, to beare the whole swaye, and to ouer rule al the worlde: but onely in General meetinges, & Councelles to sitte in place aboue al others. 1697 E. Stillingfleet vi. 324 The general Meeting of the Magistrates of the whole City and the People together. ?1770 (new ed.) 6 Their general meetings at stated times, which they are all obliged to be present at. 1812 419 The Committee, therefore, might be left..to call a General Meeting when they might deem such a proceeding necessary. 1997 12 Dec. 14/5 Banners announce a general meeting of all students to discuss a university-wide strike. 1991 9 Oct. 8/1 The courses, provisionally titled General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs), will be available from next September in five subject areas. 1997 (Electronic ed.) 22 Nov. Because the college was also a pilot centre for the General National Vocational Qualifications scheme, funding was received from the European Union, which provided 83,000 for equipment and information technology training opportunities. 2001 (Electronic ed.) 25 Jan. Vocational GCSEs,..to replace the General National Vocational Qualification, would be introduced by 2002 in subjects such as leisure and tourism, engineering, art and design and business and manufacturing. society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer by rank > [noun] > general > types of 1647 No. 216 1740 The generall, many generall officers, field officers, inferior officers and agitators met, a great part of the time was spent in consideration and debate of the Proposals of the Army. 1781 in T. Simes (ed. 3) 4 The inactivity of the greatest part of our General Officers, during a peace. 1844 53 The General Officers intrusted with the Command of Districts are responsible..for [etc.]. 1990 43 58 Only a general officer commanding an army or a colonel commanding a separate department could convene a general court-martial. 1626 E. Cecyl 17 I gaue a generall order to the Sergeant Major Generall, that when any Soldier should land they should bring victualls with them.] 1669 J. Locke 12 §. 50 To Issue out their general Orders to the Constable's and Admiral's Courts, for the Raising, Disposing, or Disbanding the Forces by Land or by Sea. 1699 D. Jones (ed. 2) 275 He [sc. the king] chose the Field, drew up his Army, gave out his general Orders where-ever he was in Person. 1756 R. Dinwiddie Let. 27 Dec. in G. Washington (1984) IV. 71 Not knowing Your Numbers in those Out-Forts I gave general Orders to call them all in. 1804 18 Feb. 2/5 The Dublin Papers, of the 11th instant, mention, that the Commander in Chief, Lord Cathcart, has issued General Orders to all the Yeomanry Corps of Ireland. 1906 11 827 What would seem to be the most fundamental documentary series, a complete edition of the general orders of Washington as commander-in-chief, remains unexecuted. 1992 N. Maclean ii. xi. 221 The task force developed a practical set of recommendations, and at a meeting in Washington, D.C., it was decided these orders should be modeled on the military services' General Orders. 1994 3 929/1 ETSI [= European Telecommunications Standards Institute] is considering a possible introduction of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) in GSM. 2005 9 35 It then transmits digital data over a Bluetooth link to a mobile telephone that uses the General Packet Radio Service. 2007 I. Troshani & S. R. Hill in G. Karmakar & L. S. Dooley vi. 89/2 The General Packet Radio Service constitutes an improvement over the GSM technology. 1473 VI. 73/1 Lettres of prive Seale, of Pardon generall or speciall. 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Cade xviii With generale pardon for my men halfe gone. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio 314 Offering to all such as were in the Iland a generall pardon in his Maiesties behalfe, if they woulde yeeld. 1776 E. Gibbon I. xi. 309 The emperor..granted a general pardon to all who..had been engaged in the service of the Palmyrenian queen. 1855 T. B. Macaulay III. xiv. 398 William..expressed his hope that a bill of general pardon and oblivion would be..presented for his sanction. 1976 74 479 A general pardon for all felonies..was apparently available to those who slew feloniously but not of malice prepensed. 1999 (Nexis) 8 Jan. It is up to the Senate and the National Assembly whether or not to grant a general pardon to those who are convicted. 1684 R. Howlett 90 Ringing at Half-pulls is now the modern general Practice: that is, when one Change is made at Fore-stroke, another at Back-stroke, etc. 1753 J. Hanway I. xvi. 104 Their general practice is to board immediately. 1822 J. M. Good III. 372 Neither musk nor opium..have been found successful in general practice. 1882 Nov. 748 It was a general practice to marl the land periodically. 1954 R. H. Cochrane (ed. 2) 67 It is general practice to use a binder in conjunction with a threshing mill. 1967 113 1020/2 I have given up general practice and returned to a full-time specialty. 2003 S. H. Barondes 17 Phenobarbital..was especially popular with doctors in general practice, who prescribed it in small doses as an all-purpose psychiatric drug. the world > health and disease > healing > healer > general practitioner > [noun] 1823 23 Nov. 266/1 An Essay on the Education and duties of the general Practitioner in Medicine and Surgery. 1829 R. Gooch 75 A general practitioner, in large midwifery practice. 1860 O. W. Holmes i. 15 The ‘general practitioners’..had to recognize that people could get well, unpoisoned. 1920 28 May 12/3 It is proposed to combine preventative and curative medicine locally in primary health centres, staffed by general practitioners, and centrally in secondary health centres staffed by consultants and specialists. 1961 16 Sept. 662/1 Any general practitioner undertaking domiciliary midwifery should..have at hand..a transfusion giving set. 2002 P. Thomas iv. 48 It's not very different from the way the average general practitioner works—making a diagnosis on the basis of an educated guess or a ‘hunch’. 1852 R. Grant xvi. 320 The annual value of general precession at 50″·21129. 1949 93 533/1 All observations of position are made in a frame which is known to be rotating; the speed of rotation is known as the general precession. 1997 P. Duffett-Smith 48 The reference direction is that of the first point of Aries, so general precession causes these coordinates to change slowly with time. society > society and the community > [noun] 1854 J. E. Millais Let. 10 May in M. Lutyens (1967) 210 This is what a number of comfortable, portly, philosophers will say merely in direct opposition of the general public. 1877 J. Tyndall in 2 Oct. 2/4 Never..has this longing been more liberally responded to, both among men of science and the general public. 1934 Nov. 317/2 When the general public finds that the railways are providing local services much faster and no dearer than motor bus companies,..it will begin to return..to the railway. 1996 26 Feb. 8/2 Only 4% of Generation Xers drink wine, compared with 35% of the general public. the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > [adjective] > having several uses 1851 19 409/2 A prize of £10 at Leeds, in 1849, for light and general-purpose plough. 1894 230/2 Patent general purpose drill. 1937 B. H. L. Hart x. 131 The plans of the General Staff were dominated by the idea of contributing a general-purpose force of three army corps to join the French field armies. 1968 L. Fox & D. F. Mayers i. 7 The Runge-Kutta method..is a useful general-purpose routine for non-linear first-order equations. 2003 Aug. 24/1 Disposable alkaline batteries are a good general-purpose battery, readily available in all the popular sizes. 1829 G. Jones I. 113 To-day, orders for ‘general quarters’ were given... General quarters comprehend all the evolutions and minutiae of a fight. 1832 E. C. Wines I. 43 In the general quarter bill the surgeons are stationed in the cockpit. 1900 5 Mar. 9/2 On every ‘general-quarter’ day, in my last ship. 1919 W. Lang vi. 61 When the bugle sounds ‘General Quarters’, the prelude to action. 1991 Nov. 26/1 General Quarters had been sounded. I was trying to get to my battle station. But all I could see when I reached the top deck was smoke. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > [noun] > exacting or collecting > collector of impost, due, or tax 1400General receyvour [see sense A. 8b(a)]. 1442 V. 62/1 Paye and deliver to the said generall Receyvours..all the Yssues. 1509–10 c. 3 The Kyng..entendythe that divers Revenues & Duetys dewe..to hys Highnes shalbe payde to..his generall Receyvor. 1704 W. Nelson 99 These are to require you that you forthwith Collect the several Sums of Money mentioned,..and that you pay the same unto R.N. of, &c. whom we have appointed General Receiver of the said Money. 1822 15 Nov. 2/6 We understand that the Corn Inspectors have received a circular from the General Receiver. 1995 (Nexis) 7 Apr. a26 To appoint a general receiver to administer the entire child welfare system. the world > relative properties > number > algebra > [adjective] > relating to expressions > relating to functions > recursive 1936 58 346 Since the results of the present paper were obtained, it has been shown by Kleene (see his forthcoming paper, ‘General recursive functions of natural numbers’) that analogous results can be obtained entirely in terms of recursiveness, without making use of λ-definability. 1936 S. C. Kleene in 112 727 In this paper we offer several observations on general recursive functions, using essentially Gödel's form of the definition. 2002 S. G. Krantz vi. 89 Church's thesis is that the class of general recursive functions exhausts all of the effectively computable functions. This is a statement of philosophy; it is not amenable to proof. 1922 L. Silberstein Pref. p. i The University was kind enough to undertake the publication of that part of the course which dealt with general relativistic questions. 1972 18 Feb. 361/2 The theory of black holes..may perhaps be considered as one of the aspects of general-relativistic physics which is better understood. 2001 P. Murdin in P. Moore ii. 143 We would not expect to be able to view general relativistic phenomena in another galaxy with the HST. 1916 76 701 These considerations have led Einstein to his postulate of general relativity, which requires the laws of nature to be invariant for all transformations of co-ordinates. 1955 21 Apr. p. xi/2 The application of general relativity to cosmology was implicit in Einstein's original theory. 2006 L. Smolin vi. 92 General relativity has no fermions, so new fermions must be hypothesized to be the superpartners of the gravitons. society > armed hostility > military service > [noun] > type or manner of service > in reserve 1656 Ld. Orrery V. iv. v. 245 I had divided my Army into three equal parts, having first chosen out a select number, as a general reserve to answer all emergencies. 1809 133 The corps of the north remained, as a general reserve. 1862 in (U.S. War Dept.) (1884) 1st Ser. XI. iii. 613 Application..must be made to the army chief of artillery for temporary relief from the general reserve. 1918 E. S. Farrow 259 General reserve, a reserve retained in the hands of the general officer commanding of the whole force until required. 1995 R. H. Cole et al. 100 FORSCOM would provide a general reserve of combat-ready Army forces. society > authority > office > holder of office > public officials > senior or chief public officials > [noun] > secretary general 1782 64 (table) Establishment of General and Warrant Staff... Town Adjutant... Aid du Camp... General Secretary. 1819 10 July 3 Connell, who was general secretary to the society,..told the master-coachmaker what the consequences would be. 1904 24 224 Dr. Ira Landrith, General Secretary of the R.E.A. 2004 24 July 17/2 David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, called for suspect papers to be re-marked. 1931 A. Korzybski in (1933) 749 In a Ā-system, the ‘logical’ problems of freedom from contradiction become also semantic problems of one-valued meanings made possible only under ∞-valued, Ā, non-el general semantics. 1933 A. Korzybski (title) Science and sanity. An introduction to non-Aristotelian systems and general semantics. 1951 4 119 The term ‘General Semantics’ was used by the late Alfred Korzybski for a kind of linguistic therapy quite unrelated to technical linguistics. 1988 N. Postman 144 Korzybski believed that by studying general semantics deeply and by developing new language habits, we could re-educated our ‘neuro-semantic’ systems and thus reduce social conflict and a variety of psychological disorders. society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun] > maid or housemaid > maid-of-all-work 1725 A. Moreton 30 Without being a profess'd Needle-Woman, which I think is not to be expected from one that professes to be a general Servant. 1815 II. 431 Catherine Prendergast, one of the prisoners, and daughter to Patrick, another of them, was his housekeeper and general servant. 1879 9 21 Nine females..were admitted for anæmia. Six were housemaids or general servants. 1923 36 1028 The general servant of one may become temporarily the servant of another. 2003 J. Flanders (2004) iv. 102 The single servant had to try to encompass all the heavy work: the maid-of-all-work, or ‘general servant’ (considered to be a more genteel term), had..the most tiring, difficult job of all servants. 1646 S. Crow in 2 That none of the Factors of this scale..lade on Board, either of the Generall Ships, or other Ships whatever, any Goods, faculty, or estate whatever, from themselves, or other whoever. 1718 Let. 22 May in (?1719) (single sheet) The Company was resolved to carry on the Trade by general Ships. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher General ship, where persons unconnected with each other load goods on board, in contradistinction to a chartered ship. 1883 Sir W. B. Brett in (1884) 49 768/2 This..is a ship taken up by the charterer for the purpose of carrying two or three different sorts of cargo, but it is not a general ship. 1917 4 4 The owners of general ships, carrying goods or merchandise for hire in the usual course of business, are common carriers. 1987 47 38 The ‘general’ ships of the seventeenth century which might carry cargo for thirty to forty shippers became much rarer. society > trade and finance > trading place > place where retail transactions made > [noun] > shop > general store 1803 C. Lofft in N. Bloomfield p. ix Her Mother was a Widow: who kept a small General Shop. 1861 C. Dickens I. vii. 92 Mr. Wopsle's great-aunt..kept—in the same room—a little general shop. 1963 3 317/1 A well-equipped general shop is available. society > trade and finance > trading place > place where retail transactions made > [noun] > shop > general store 1827 4 Oct. 3 G.W. Robson..has..opened a General Store, to which he invites the attention of the Public, where all kinds of Groceries will be sold on the most reasonable terms. 1835 J. Martin 134 A neat village..containing 16 dwelling houses, 3 general stores, 2 groceries. 1851 17 May 7/3 He has opened a General Store. 1948 28 July 1 Shopping at the general store here to replenish his food supply. 1995 (Nexis) 19 Mar. vn 1 The newlyweds moved into an apartment on the second floor of the general store where two of their children, Herbert E. and Jean, were born. society > occupation and work > working > labour relations > [noun] > strike > by all workers of one industry society > occupation and work > working > labour relations > [noun] > strike > by most of the important trades of a country 1810 in (1910) III. 370 The Society, in November 1809, ordered a general strike. 1830 31 Dec. 8/1 It has been determined at a meeting of delegates, appointed by the spinners in the different parts of the country, that a general strike shall take place on Monday, the 27th instant, of all spinners who are receiving less that 4s. 2d. per 1000 hanks. 1886 15 Jan. Suppl. 59/1 If a general strike in all industries be resorted to, there could be little hope of mutual aid. 1902 XXXIII. 26/1 In 1891 a general strike took place in the German printing trade. 1926 3 May 71 I do not think all the leaders when they assented to ordering a general strike fully realised that they were threatening the basis of ordered government. 1952 215 A general strike of textile workers took place in Bombay and towards the end of the period notice of a general strike on the Indian railways was given. 1954 B. North & R. North tr. M. Duverger i. i. 15 General Strikes of 1891 and 1893 in Belgium; of 1902 and 1908 in Sweden. 1971 A. Bullock iii. 72/1 The failure of the General Strike in 1926 marked the defeat of the militants in the British Labour movement. 1996 Mar. 94/1 Entire work forces slept over in hotels during France's recent general strike. the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > metaphysics > [noun] > matter or substance the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > ancient Greek philosophy > post-Socratic philosophy > [noun] > Aristotelianism > elements of 1697 E. Stillingfleet 238 The Substance, and Essence of a Man are the same; not being taken for the individual Substance, which cannot be understood without particular Modes and Properties; but the general Substance, or Nature of Man abstractly from all the Circumstances of Persons. 1843 J. S. Mill I. i. vi. §2 The well known dogmas of substantiæ secundæ, or general substances. 1996 O. C. Dean tr. A. Grillmeier & T. Hainthaler II. iv. ii. iii. 134 The unity of God is thus found only in the..general substance (which has no real existence). 1482 W. Caxton tr. v. xxi. f.cclxiii The fyfth general Synode was holden in aquilia in sergius tyme. a1600 R. Hooker (1648) viii. sig. Ccv Before Emperours became Christians, the Church had never any generall Synod. 1818 15 July 2/3 The determinations of the General Synod will be submitted for the sanction of his Royal Majesty. 1887 7 Mar. 2/1 Might it interest him..to watch the workings of Synods all over Prussia, tapering up (if I may use the term) by a process of elimination into a General Synod and its standing committee? 1963 8 Nov. 8/5 This scheme..provides for the formation of a General Synod for the Church of England by the union of the two convocations with the addition of a House of Laity. 2005 18 Feb. 20/2 The General Synod voted on Tuesday afternoon in favour of moving towards abolishing the parson's freehold in favour of a new arrangement of ‘common tenure’ for all clergy. 1528–30 tr. T. Littleton (new ed.) f. ii Tenant in tayle generall, is where landes or tenementes be gyuen to a man and to his heyres of his body begoten. ?1538 sig. C.ivv There is a generall tayle, and a specyall tayle. Fee tayle generall is as where landes be gyuen to a man & to his heyres of his body begoten without expressynge by what woman they are to be begoten. 1628 E. Coke 26 a If tenements be giuen..to the heires of the body of the man; In this case the husband hath an estate in generall taile. 1762 T. Smollett I. i. 7 We must make a distinction between general tail and special tail. 1776 4 They shall vote for all the Members for the Assembly in one general ticket out of the Country at large. 1800 T. Jefferson (1893–9) VII. 401 On the subject of an election by a general ticket, or by districts, most persons..seem to have made up their minds. 1888 J. Bryce I. xxv. 385 The presidential electors being now chosen, in each State, by ‘general ticket’, not in districts. 1940 34 899 Because a general ticket is employed—e.g., each viscount writes in sixty-six names on his ballot—an organized majority can completely exclude minority candidates. 1989 76 87 By producing a winner-take-all result, the general ticket transformed a state into the functional equivalent of a single-member district. 1607 J. Cowell sig. Yyyv/1 A general verdict is that, which is giuen or brought into the Court, in like generall termes to the generall issue: as in an action of disseisin the Desendant pleadeth, No wrong, no disseisin... And againe, the prisoner at the barre pleading, Not guiltie: the Enquest in like generall termes bring in their verdict, either for the King, Guilty, or for the prisoner, Not guilty. 1772 ‘Junius’ I. Ded. p. iv The right of juries to return a general verdict, in all cases whatsoever, is..not..in any shape questionable by the legislature. 1885 19 Index 712 Special findings of jury will not control general verdict unless unreconcilably inconsistent with it. 1987 5 515 On the general issue being pleaded, the jury brought in a general verdict. 2014 113 408 The general verdict with answers to written questions is a hybrid verdict in which the jury both issues specific findings of fact and renders a general verdict. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022). generalv. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: general n. society > armed hostility > military service > make into soldier [verb (transitive)] > lead or command 1797 Ld. Grenville Let. 20 Mar. in Duke of Buckingham (1853) II. 367 I hope and trust the Emperor will have collected an army, better generalled and able to resist the French. 1824 C. R. Maturin III. xiv. 153 The right wing was still more inauspiciously generalled for the event of the day. De Montfort was at its head; he was no longer the redoubtable De Montfort—the resistless champion of the armies of the Church. 1849 C. Brontë I. iii. 52 Crime and the lost archangel generalled the ranks of Pharaoh. 1889 1 Mar. 6/2 Mrs. Bancroft has not only arranged nearly every group, but she has literally generalled the whole into completeness. 1933 R. Sencourt (1972) iii. xvi. 329 The Germans, superbly generalled by Moltke, had almost completed the encircling movement which isolated the city of Metz. 1973 P. Arnold & C. Davis 142/3 Artime scored both goals, and the forward line was cleverly generalled by Onega. 1990 H. Engel (1991) iii. 20 He was generalling this interview very well so far. I was prepared for bad news. He was going to stonewall me with that smile on his face. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  adj.n.c1230 v.1797 |
