The word "general" has a tricky spelling, with some letters that are silent or pronounced differently than expected. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word can be spelled /ˈdʒɛnərəl/. The letter "g" is pronounced as /dʒ/ while the letter "e" is pronounced as "ɛ". The second "e" is silent and the letter "a" is pronounced as /ə/. Finally, the letter "l" is pronounced using a dark /r/ sound. Despite the odd spelling, the word "general" is commonly used in everyday language to refer to a leader or commanding officer.
General is an adjective with multiple meanings. Firstly, it refers to something that is widespread or prevalent in terms of scope or extent. It describes an object, idea, or concept that is broad, all-encompassing, or applicable to a wide range of situations or individuals. It is often used to denote something that is true or valid in most cases, or without specific restrictions or limitations.
Secondly, general is used to express something that pertains to a whole group or category rather than being specific or individualized. It can refer to a collective or overall characteristic of a group, community, or society rather than focusing on any particular member or detail. This usage highlights the general consensus, opinion, or sentiment shared among the majority rather than the exception.
In military terms, general denotes a rank or position higher than the specific or specialized roles within a particular branch of armed forces. A general holds a high command or leadership position responsible for strategizing, directing, and overseeing operations across a wide area or group of units.
Furthermore, general can also function as a noun to describe a person or entity who possesses or displays characteristics or qualities that are widespread or typical. It can refer to an average or common individual lacking particular distinction or uniqueness, or simply someone who lacks specialized knowledge or expertise in a specific field.
Overall, the term general encompasses the notions of all-encompassing, widespread, collective, high-ranking, and non-specific.
• Relating to a whole class or order; not special or particular; public; common; extensive; usual.
• The whole; the total; the chief commander of an army; the commander of a division.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "general" is derived from the Latin word "generalis", which was a combination of "genus" meaning "kind" or "sort" and the suffix "-alis" indicating "pertaining to". The original meaning of "generalis" was "pertaining to a whole kind or class". This Latin term was later adopted into Old French as "general", and eventually made its way into Middle English.