General officer

General officer
General Gen"er*al, a. [F. g['e]n['e]ral, fr. L. generalis. See {Genus}.] 1. Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable economy. [1913 Webster]

2. Comprehending many species or individuals; not special or particular; including all particulars; as, a general inference or conclusion. [1913 Webster]

3. Not restrained or limited to a precise import; not specific; vague; indefinite; lax in signification; as, a loose and general expression. [1913 Webster]

4. Common to many, or the greatest number; widely spread; prevalent; extensive, though not universal; as, a general opinion; a general custom. [1913 Webster]

This general applause and cheerful shout Argue your wisdom and your love to Richard. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. Having a relation to all; common to the whole; as, Adam, our general sire. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

6. As a whole; in gross; for the most part. [1913 Webster]

His general behavior vain, ridiculous. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

7. Usual; common, on most occasions; as, his general habit or method. [1913 Webster]

Note: The word general, annexed to a name of office, usually denotes chief or superior; as, attorney-general; adjutant general; commissary general; quartermaster general; vicar-general, etc. [1913 Webster]

{General agent} (Law), an agent whom a principal employs to transact all his business of a particular kind, or to act in his affairs generally.

{General assembly}. See the Note under {Assembly}.

{General average}, {General Court}. See under {Average}, {Court}.

{General court-martial} (Mil.), the highest military and naval judicial tribunal.

{General dealer} (Com.), a shopkeeper who deals in all articles in common use.

{General demurrer} (Law), a demurrer which objects to a pleading in general terms, as insufficient, without specifying the defects. --Abbott.

{General epistle}, a canonical epistle.

{General guides} (Mil.), two sergeants (called the right, and the left, general guide) posted opposite the right and left flanks of an infantry battalion, to preserve accuracy in marching. --Farrow.

{General hospitals} (Mil.), hospitals established to receive sick and wounded sent from the field hospitals. --Farrow.

{General issue} (Law), an issue made by a general plea, which traverses the whole declaration or indictment at once, without offering any special matter to evade it. --Bouvier. --Burrill.

{General lien} (Law), a right to detain a chattel, etc., until payment is made of any balance due on a general account.

{General officer} (Mil.), any officer having a rank above that of colonel.

{General orders} (Mil.), orders from headquarters published to the whole command.

{General practitioner}, in the United States, one who practices medicine in all its branches without confining himself to any specialty; in England, one who practices both as physician and as surgeon.

{General ship}, a ship not chartered or let to particular parties.

{General term} (Logic), a term which is the sign of a general conception or notion.

{General verdict} (Law), the ordinary comprehensive verdict in civil actions, ``for the plaintiff'' or ``for the defendant''. --Burrill.

{General warrant} (Law), a warrant, now illegal, to apprehend suspected persons, without naming individuals.

Syn: Syn. {General}, {Common}, {Universal}.

Usage: Common denotes primarily that in which many share; and hence, that which is often met with. General is stronger, denoting that which pertains to a majority of the individuals which compose a genus, or whole. Universal, that which pertains to all without exception. To be able to read and write is so common an attainment in the United States, that we may pronounce it general, though by no means universal. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • General officer — Officer Of fi*cer, n. [F. officier. See {Office}, and cf. {Official}, n.] 1. One who holds an office; a person lawfully invested with an office, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical; as, a church officer; a police officer; a staff officer.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • general officer — n. Mil. any officer above a colonel in rank …   English World dictionary

  • General officer — A general officer is an officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank… …   Wikipedia

  • General Officer Commanding — (GOC) is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth (and some other) nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division. A general officer heading a… …   Wikipedia

  • General Officer Commanding — (GOC) ist der militärische Titel, den ein General der britischen Armee trägt, der eine Formation befehligt. Ein General, der eine besonders bedeutende Formation kommandiert, wird auch als General Officer Commanding in Chief bezeichnet. Siehe auch …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • General Officer Commanding the Forces Canada — was the command officer of British Armed Forces in Canada after 1875 and remained until 1902 when Britain was no longer providing military support in Canada.List of GOC:* 1875 Gen. Sir Edward Selby Smith, KCMG * 1880 Lt Gen. Richard Amherst Luard …   Wikipedia

  • General Officer Commanding the Forces (Canada) — The General Officer Commanding the Forces (Canada) was the most senior member of the Canadian Army from 1875 until 1904. Previously, the position was held by the Commander in Chief, North America. Subsequent to the withdrawal of the majority of… …   Wikipedia

  • general officer — /dʒɛnrəl ˈɒfəsə/ (say jenruhl ofuhsuh) noun an officer of or above the rank of brigadier, holding the rank of either major general, lieutenant general, or general, having command of military formations larger than a brigade or having the duties… …  

  • general officer — noun officers in the Army or Air Force or Marines above the rank of colonel • Topics: ↑military, ↑armed forces, ↑armed services, ↑military machine, ↑war machine • Hypernyms: ↑commissioned military officer …   Useful english dictionary

  • general officer — noun Date: 1681 any of the officers in the army, air force, or marine corps above colonel compare company officer, field officer, flag officer …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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