Middle English Dictionary Entry
ǧenerāl adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ǧenerāl adj. & n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) All-inclusive, universal; including all of an estate; resurreccioun ~, ~ resurreccioun (risinge) [see also resurreccioun n., sense 2.(a)]; ~ dai, a day of meeting or worship for all members of a group; ~ reule, a rule having no exceptions; (b) complete, absolute; (c) as a whole.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1498 : Greye Monekes of Cistevs fram ȝere to ȝere A Chapitre makeden generale of Abbodes..euerech Abbod of greie Monekes to þulke chapitle cam With-Inne þre ȝer.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10173 : Þis bissopes to londone echone gonne wende..& conceil made general, þis entredit to do.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)14/13 : Þe tuelfte article is to leue þe general arizinge of bodye and þet lif wyþ-oute ende.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2969 : Al stynted is the moornynge and the terys Of Grekes by oon general assent.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.52 : Ordeynd it was..þat þe general day schulde ben helde..in þe chirche of seynt margarete.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2421 : Take this for a general reule, that euery conseil that is affermed so strongly that it may nat be chaunged for no condicioun that may bityde, I seye that thilke conseil is wikked.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.388 : Of the roote of thise seuene synnes, thanne is Pryde the general roote of alle harmes.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)20/32 : This rewle is general for alle planetis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130b/a : Noþing is more comoun ande general þan matiere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)328b/b : It is general in arsmetrik þat by as many as þe myddil passeþ þe leste by so many þe moste passeþ þe myddel.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)3586 : Four maners of helpes er general, Þat in purgatory availes þam al.
- (1427) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.71 : John shall do hym self to have a soole astate, in fee sympil or in fee taille, generall of al the landes and tenementes.
- (1430) Proc.Privy C.4.74 : Þe Kyng of Scottes is disposed to take treues generale, by see and be lande, with þe Kyng.
- (a1440) Let.Coventry in EHR 55644 : Ther was graunted at a general day to him & to his wyf xx s. by yer.
- a1450 LDirige(1) (Dgb 102)190 : To..lede hym with the to iugement..Atte thy general parlement.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2205 : Thai made assaute generalle, The walles downe to throwe.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)343/19 : And þis fest and Iustes was holde general, and to alle þo þat wolde come.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)117.551 (v.2:p.241) : Marie .. aftir shal finally, whan compleet ys the general resurreccioun, illumynyd ben in hyre glorious body.
- (?1468) Paston (Gairdner)4.310 : I hertely pray yow that if eny generall pardon be grauntyd, that I may have on for John Dane my servaunt.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)4016 : Then shal be domus-day, I-wys, And general risyng.
- a1500(1445) ?Lydg.Marg.Entry (Hrl 3869)156 : This storie to youre highnes wolde expresse The grete Resurecioun generall.
b
- (1394) Will York in Sur.Soc.4186 : I will that the same company sele Robyn another generall acquitans, and gif hym xl s.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)60 : With his precious blood he wrot the bille Upon the crois, as general acquitaunce To every penitent in ful creaunce.
c
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)18a/b : First, of his general pocicioun and site [*Ch.(1): of þe posicioun & of þe site of it generale & totale], It semeþ þat it [the belly] is of þe regioun of þe spiritual membres; of the particuler posycyoun, [etc.].
2.
(a) Comprehensive, inclusive, full, thorough; (b) of wide application, generic, general (as opposed to special or specific); of a medicine: not specific, generally efficacious; ~ name, a designation shared by two or more things; ~ reule, a rule applying to an art or science as a whole; (c) widespread, frequent, common.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)20a/a : Iohn..comprehendiþ al þese distinctiouns vndir on general discripcioun.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)13a/a : Be here sene a general anathomie [L anathomia generalis] also of al þe spondiles of þe nek.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1426 : Summe telleþ not here synne al In confessyone general.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)112b : Na mon ne eote biuoren ow bute bi ower meistres leaue, general oðer spetial as offreres preachurs & meonurs, spetial of alle oþre.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.464 : Now ben ther general signes of gentilesse, as eschewynge of vice and ribaudye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)101b/b : Þanne aȝens venyme I-take in þe body, hit is a general medicyne to excite spewinge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)254b/b : Also vua is a general name..of þe clustre and of þe grape.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)1/3 : The firste tretis of surgerie halt wiþinne him general ruelis & canones.
- (?c1400) Wycl.7 Heresies (Dc 274)441 : Þai say..þat speciale prayere aplied by hor prelatis is better þen generale, As one Famulorum saide of a frere is better þen a Pater noster..ffor þo Pater noster is moste generale, and þe Famulorum moste special.
- a1425(?a1400) PCounsel.(Hrl 674)135/18 : Ne charge not what it is..be it orison, be it psalm..or any oþer preyer, general or specyal.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)1b/b : We wote by þe generale intensioun of Cirurgiens þat þe Idropesy be cured.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)21b/a : Causez of apostemez, exiturez, and pusclez, som bene generale, som speciale.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)24b/b : Ne it is nouȝt to goo to þe singulere apostemes, til þat þe general sermones ben seie.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)47a/b : Tokenes ben had by þe general techynge aboue.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)16 : Forto suppose..hym [God] as proved to be bi an oþer, hiȝer and generaler kunnyng tauȝt in þis present book.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)263 : Þouȝ þei hadden special meenyngis contyened vndir þilk general meenyng.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)471 : This thing..weerned Crist expressith..in a larger and generaler fourme.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)Introd.118 : Thou maist lerne a gret part of the generall rewles of theorik in astrologie.
- (1453) Will York in Sur.Soc.30188 : This ensyng is the Codicell..rehersid in generall termes in my testament, of myne uttermost will.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)151/21 : Moving is general to rennyng, and rennyng is special to moving.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2527 : Homicide, Which Senne is now so general That it welnyh stant overal.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)2/22 : It es lang tyme passed sen þare was any general passage ouer þe see in to þe haly land.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)77/2 : Þe land of Caldee..es a grete land; and þaire langage es gretter and mare generall þan of any land on þat syde þe see.
3.
Couched in general terms.
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.945 : No thyng dorste he seye, Saue in his songes som what wolde he wreye His wo, as in a general compleynyng: He seyde he louede and was biloued no thyng.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.2.12 : This chapitre is so generall evere in oon that there nedith no more declaracioun; but forget it not.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)1/9 : Manye reeders, being so desirose to haue anoon of þese maters þe comprehensioun and ful taking, or ellis to haue þe general confuse knowing going afore þe specialist and clerist of þe same maters siȝt and feling.
4.
In titles: (a) having general authority or jurisdiction, chief; attorne (depute) ~, a principal agent or substitute; commissarie ~, vice-chancellor of a university; lord ~, supreme lord; ~ receivour, one of the officers placed over the collectors of rents, etc.; ministre ~, the chief servant; esp., the head or superior of an order of friars; vicaire ~, the chief substitute or representative; (b) ~ chirche, the Universal Church; ~ counseil, counseil ~, an ecumenical council [see counseil n., sense 1.(b)].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1663 : The destinee, ministre general, That executeth in the world oueral The purueiaunce that God hath seyn biforn.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.20 : He..Hath maked me his vicaire general To forme and peynten erthely creaturis.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2804 : At Rome..The vicair general of alle Of hem that lieven Cristes feith..He hihte Pope Nicolas.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)67/5 : No frere schuld be hardy in eny maner wise to preche to þe peple, but he be examyned & appreued of þe mynistre general.
- (1406) RParl.3.605a : We..has constitut and assigned..Henry Boynton [etc.]..our generalls and specialls Attornes and Deputes, to comune, trete, and concorde with..the King of Scotland.
- (1419) Proc.Privy C.2.258 : If their general attornez, or they in theyre own persones, were warned and called duely.
- (?1430) Paston2.32 : That ye arn Vicar general in Inggelond of the worthy Prelate, the Abbot of Clunie.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)43 : Be alle freris holden to haue..on of þe freris of þis religion a general mynystre & seruaunt of al þe breþerhed, & be þei holden to obliche stedfastly to him.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)29 : Kyng Richard had..grauntyd..that in his absence..his generall attournes myht pursue [etc.].
- (1442) RParl.5.62 : That every Receyvour particuler of every of the Possessions and Enheritauncez aforesaid for the tyme beyng shal paye and deliver to the said generall Receyvours for the tyme all the Yssues, Profites, Money and Commodites.
- (1453) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35319 : Thomas Sawnders, doctour of decres, Commissarie generall in the Universite of Oxonforde.
- (1455) RParl.FA (Walbran)57 : It was late ordeyned by auctorite of parliament, that all the abbotz and priours..shuld, in such cases, be theire attourneys generalles or generall.
- a1486 Ordin.Lists in RS 55.1 (Lnsd 285)323 : The conestable sittyng in his place abovesaid a fore the kyng, as his vicar generall.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)431 : In tokene þat god is lord general ouer alle creaturis, men ȝyuen god þe tenþe part in tokene of his general lordchip.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)82/15 : Of þe general mynistre of þe ordre of Frere menowris or of þe prouincial of þe same prouince.
b
- a1400 Bk.Mother (Eg 826)38 : I byleve in the holy gost, holy chirche general.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)17/306 : We schul trow þat þer ys general chirche of angelys and seyntys in heuyn, and of alle þat schul be sauyd.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)816 : In þe heiȝe holly gost holly y beleue, And generall holy chirche also.
5.
As noun: (a) a general class of things, a genus, a broad classification; also, a general truth; (b) a general meeting; (c) a neutral color used for outlines and shading [see Salzman Building in Engl. 168-9].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.23 : In every thing general [L genere], yif that men seen any thing that is inparfit, certes in thilke general ther moot ben som thing that is parfit.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)131a/a : Maculam..is in maner a kynd or generale to trace or cicatrice.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)170a/b : Medicyne mundificatif is as kinde or general to abstersif & to purgatif, & nouȝt to corrosif.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)253 : As logiciens knowen wel þe general and his spice or special maken togidere noon noumbre, for as myche as al þe spice or special of a general is conteyned wiþynne his general; and in an oþer maner, þe spice or þe special conteyneþ actuali his general.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.175 : In euery generall of kynde [L in quolibet genere].
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.301 : Ne all þe trewthe forgeten haþ noght he, Bot lo þe knowynge of þe generall Makeþ him to laboure for þe speciall.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)26/30 : If oon of þo ij generalys be departid into two spicis of him, þan we mowe make noumbre of ij.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)151/22 : Whanne þe special is sette to his general, þe special drawiþ..þe general fro his generalte.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1507 : Oure bischop bounes him of bed..And þen iogis all þe iewis & generall callis.
c
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57212 : My mastyr paid to the clerke of Herwyche for ij li. generall to paynt wyth pavyses, iij s.
6.
Phr. in general: (a) without exception, universally; in one body; (b) as a rule, generally; (c) not specifically, in general terms, in general.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.417 : To the feste cristen folk hem dresse In general, ye bothe yonge and olde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.2 : The grete Senne original, Which every man in general Upon his berthe hath envenymed.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1802 : Benigne he was to ech in general, For which he gat hym thank in every place.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)197/32 : Whan men seyn De Profundis, þei seyn it in comoun & in generall with the cristene.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.3.70 : This rule in generall wol I warne the for evere.
- (1450) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35294 : For ȝou all in generall, we schall offyr to almyghty god oure devote prayers.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1691 : The Sowdon charge[d] them to kepe the day..Theder they came ichon in generall.
b
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)56 : Wikke appetyt comth ay before syknesse: In general, this reule may nat fayle.
c
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2285 : How she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle, But it be anythyng in general.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2423 : Ye han..taught me as in general how I shal gouerne me..But now wolde I fayn that ye wolde condescenden in especial.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.431 : I wol noght seie in general, For ther ben somme in special [etc.].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)140a/b : First it is to speke in general and þanne in special.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)6/15 : To speke in general..anticrist is euery man þat lyueþ aȝen Crist.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4264 : Al-be no mencioun Be made þerof nor wryte in special Of no persone, but in general.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.900 : There is som pitee Amonges alle thise other in general, And forthi se that thow in special, [etc.].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.926 : Yet seydestow, that..Thise loveres wolden speke in general, And thoughten that it was a siker art.
- (1436) Case King Council in Seld.Soc.35102 : That he ne shal, in general ne in especial, pardone ne relesse to the said Raaf..the said..summe of iiijm li.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.446 : Thus I meene to speke in generall, And noon estat syngulerly depraue.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Hatton Informacio (Hat 58)116/215 : For when y haue and Englissch of an infinityff mod sett after a nown generall as hora, tempus, causa, propositum, desiderium et similia, hitt schall be sett most comynly in þe gerundyff in -di.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Sln.962 Artist.Recipes (Sln 963) 246/6 : Yf ȝe wolle haue lyȝt grene put therto general.
- a1500 Ashm.750 Artist.Recipes (Ashm 750) 254/4 : For mak grene. Tak vertegres, and .j. quantite of general, and a quantite of blank plumbe, and grend all togedre.
- c1500 Tan.407 Artist.Recipes (Tan 407) 314/15,16 : Forto temperyn ȝour colouris..A better yalow: take gennerall and gryn it. Grene: take blewe inde and generall and gryne them togeder.
Note: Glossary: "gen(n)eral(l n. 'massicot (lead-tin yellow pigment) or similar yellow pigment'."
Note: Additional quotes, sense 5.(c). ?Modify sense. Cf. OED general, adj. and n., B. n. I. 2. 'Painting. A neutral colour used for outlines and shading. The pigment is sometimes identified with massicot n.'
Note: New spelling (with medial double n).