[ˈdʒɛn(ə)rəl], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- affecting or concerning all or most people or things; widespread
(e.g: books of general interest)

- considering or including only the main features or elements of something; not exact or detailed
(e.g: the arrangements were outlined in very general terms)

- chief or principal
(e.g: the Director General of the BBC)


Phrases:
- as a general rule
- in general

Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from Latin generalis, from genus, gener- ‘class, race, kind’. The noun primarily denotes a person having overall authority: the sense ‘army commander’ is an abbreviation of captain general, from French capitaine général ‘commander-in-chief’

[ˈdʒɛn(ə)rəl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a commander of an army, or an army officer of very high rank

- the general public


Phrases:
- as a general rule
- in general

Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from Latin generalis, from genus, gener- ‘class, race, kind’. The noun primarily denotes a person having overall authority: the sense ‘army commander’ is an abbreviation of captain general, from French capitaine général ‘commander-in-chief’