| 释义 |
gen·er·al
I. \ˈjen(ə)rəl\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin generalis, from gener-, genus birth, race, class, kind + -alis -al — more at kin
1. : involving or belonging to the whole of a body, group, class, or type : applicable or relevant to the whole rather than to a limited part, group, or section
< appearance of general decay >
< a general change in temperature >
2. : involving or belonging to every member of a class, kind, or group : applicable to every one in the unit referred to : not exclusive or excluding
< ladies, a general welcome from his grace salutes ye all — Shakespeare >
< those first assemblies were general, with all freemen bound to attend — American Guide Series: Maryland >
3.
a. : applicable or pertinent to the majority of individuals involved : characteristic of the majority : prevalent, usual, widespread
< the general opinion >
< a custom general in these areas >
< the conflict became general >
< we, the people of the United States, in order to … promote the general welfare — U.S. Constitution >
b. : concerned or dealing with universal rather than particular aspects
< general history >
4. : marked by broad overall character without being limited, modified, or checked by narrow precise considerations : concerned with main elements, major matters rather than limited details, or universals rather than particulars : approximate rather than strictly accurate
< a general outline >
< bearing a general resemblance to the original >
< the rock formations of the state have a general northeast-southwest trend — American Guide Series: New Hampshire >
5. : not confined by specialization or careful limitation : not limited to a particular class, type, or field : inclusive and manifesting or characterized by scope, diversity, or variety : broad, catholic, comprehensive
< a general drugstore >
< a general surgeon >
6. : belonging to the common nature (as of a group of like individuals) : generic
< the general characteristics of a species >
< long shaggy hair is general among bears >
7. : holding superior rank : taking precedence (as over others similarly titled)
< general mananger >
: having wide authority or responsibility
< a general captain >
< the general board >
— sometimes used postpositively
< the master general >
8. : designed for students without special ability or vocational plans
< a general course in science >
— compare college-preparatory, commercial
9. : of or relating to a universal term or proposition or a quantified statement in logic — opposed to singular
10. : involving or affecting practically the entire organism : not local
< general nervousness >
Synonyms: see universal
II. noun
(-s)
1. archaic : whole, total
2.
a. : something (as a concept, fact, idea, principle, proposition, or statement) that comprehends the whole or total
< a description that spends too much time on the general and too little on the particular >
specifically : generality
b. : genus, universal
3.
a. archaic : the general public : people
b. Britain : a servant for general work
4. [Medieval Latin generalis, from Latin generalis, adjective (in such phrases as abbas generalis, literally, general abbot)] : the chief of a religious order of all houses or congregations under one religious rule; specifically : superior general
5. [Middle French, from Old Italian generale (also, chief of a religious order), from Medieval Latin generalis] archaic : the commander in chief of an army
6.
a. : a military officer of high rank — see brigadier general, general of the air force, general of the army, lieutenant general, major general
b. : a military officer who is junior only to a general of the army, to a general of the air force, or to a field marshal, wears 4 stars, and ranks with a four-star admiral of the navy
7. : the supreme commander of the Salvation Army — compare salvationist
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