general

Definitions

gener (kind, from genus) + -al = 'belonging to a whole kind.' What is true of the whole genus, not one member, is general. The military noun comes from 'captain-general' — the officer in general command over the whole army, i.e. over the entire kind, not one unit.

Why It Means This

The two meanings feel unrelated until you see 'the whole kind' underneath both. General (adj.) = applying to the whole class. A General (n.) = the officer over the whole force. The same root sense — 'covering the entire kind, not a part' — produces an adjective about scope and a noun about top command.

Common Collocations

• 1.in general总的来说
• 2.general public普通公众
• 3.general idea大致的想法
• 4.general election大选

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The report gives a general overview rather than the details.

• 2.

  In general, prices rise faster than wages.

• 3.

  The general ordered his troops to hold the line.