National Assembly

1. (also Constituent Assembly) the first of the revolutionary assemblies in France (1789–91)
2. (also Church Assembly) a deliberative body of the Church of England set up in 1920, consisting of houses of Bishops, Clergy, and Laity, superseded in 1970 by the General Synod (see synod)

general /jenˈə-rəl/

adjective

1. Relating to a genus or whole class
2. Including various species
3. Not special
4. Not restricted or specialized
5. Relating to the whole or to all or most
6. Universal
7. Nearly universal
8. Common
9. Prevalent
10. Widespread
11. Public
12. Vague
13. (after an official title, etc) chief, of highest rank, at the head of a department (as in director-general, postmaster-general)
14. Socially accessible and familiar with all (obsolete)

adverb (Shakespeare)

Generally

noun

1. The universal as opposed to the particular
2. An army officer between a field marshal and lieutenant-general in rank
3. The head of a religious order, such as the Jesuits
4. The chief commander of an army in service
5. A person acting as leader, planning tactics or management
6. The head of the Salvation Army
7. A general servant (obsolete)
8. The public, the vulgar (archaic and Shakespeare)
9. The total (obsolete)
10. The most part, majority (obsolete)

transitive verb (genˈeralling; genˈeralled)

To act as general of

genˈeralate noun

1. The office of a general
2. The district or domain under the charge of a general

generālē (or /gen-er-äˈle/) noun (Latin)

General principles, esp in pl generāˈlia

generalissˈimo noun (pl generalissˈimos)

(Ital superl) supreme commander of a great or combined force

genˈeralist noun

A person or thing whose knowledge, activity, etc is not restricted to any particular field, opp to specialist

generalˈity noun

1. A statement having general application
2. The state of being general
3. Broadness or vagueness
4. The majority
5. The general public

genˈeralīzable or genˈeralīsable adjective

generalīzāˈtion or generalīsāˈtion noun

genˈeralize or genˈeralise transitive verb

1. To make general
2. To include under a general term
3. To reduce to a general form
4. To comprehend as a particular case within a wider concept, proposition, definition, etc
5. To represent or endow with the common characters of a group without the special characters of any one member
6. To bring to general use or knowledge
7. To infer inductively

intransitive verb

1. To make general statements
2. To form general concepts
3. To depict general character
4. To reason inductively

genˈerally adverb

1. In a general or collective manner or sense
2. In most cases
3. On the whole

genˈeralship noun

1. The position of a military commander
2. The art of manipulating armies
3. Tactical management and leadership

general anaesthetic see under anaesthesia

General Assembly see under assemble

General Certificate of Education noun

In secondary education in England and Wales, a certificate obtainable at Ordinary (formerly), Advanced, and Special levels for proficiency in one or more subjects

General Certificate of Secondary Education noun

In England and Wales, a certificate based on coursework as well as examinations, designed to suit a wide range of academic ability

general degree same as pass degree (see under pass).

general delivery noun (US)

Poste restante

general election noun

An election of all the members of a body (eg House of Commons, House of Representatives) at once

general epistles see under catholic

general journal noun (bookkeeping)

A book of initial entry for miscellaneous transactions

general ledger noun (bookkeeping)

1. A book which contains nominal accounts
2. The central database of a bookkeeping system (US)

general line noun

The party line

general meeting noun

A meeting of members of an organization whose decisions are legally binding

general officer noun (military)

An officer above the rank of colonel

general paralysis of the insane noun

General paresis (qv under paresis)

general post noun

1. Formerly, dispatch of mail to all parts, as opposed to local twopenny or penny post
2. The main daily delivery of letters
3. A general change of positions, etc (from a parlour game)

general post office noun

1. Formerly, an office receiving letters for the general post
2. (now) the head post office of a town or district

general practice noun

The work of a general practitioner, a doctor who treats patients for most illnesses or complaints, referring other cases to specialists

general principle noun

A principle to which there are no exceptions within its range of application

genˈeral-purpose adjective

Generally useful, not restricted to a particular function

general reserve noun (accounting)

Profits which have been set aside for retention in the business but not for any specified purpose

general servant noun

A servant whose duties embrace domestic work of every kind

general staff noun

Military officers who advise senior officers on policy, administration, etc

General Synod see under synod

in general

1. As a generalization
2. Mostly, as a general rule