General

The whole, without descending to particulars; the total; that which comprehends all, or the chief part. "In particulars our knowledge begins, and so spreads itself by degrees to generals." - Locke. (Eccl.) In the Roman Catholic Church, the supreme head, under the Pope, of the aggregated communities throughout Christen dom belonging to a religious order; 88, the general of the Jesuits. ( Mil . ) In our army, the name of the highest military rank that can be conferred on officers. General officers are of four grades - general, lieutenant-general, major general, and brigadier-general. The title seems to have originated in France about 1450, when John, Count de Dunois, was made lieutenant-general of the French forces, or commander-in-chief, representing the sovereign, who had delegated to his lieutenant-general the performance of the duties that would otherwise have devolved upon himself as actual commander-in-chief of the armies. The title came into use in England in the reign of Henry VIII., when the appellation of captain - general was given to the commander-in-chief of the English forces, instead of that of lord-marshal of England. From that period the title of general, both alone and distinguished by various prefixes, has been preserved in the British service, as in almost all the European armies. [Fr. générale.] ( Mil.) A beat of the drum serving as signal to an entire army. In general. For the most part: generally. General is's imo, n. [It.; Fr. générali ime .] The chief commander of an army or military force; especially, the commander of an army of two or more grand divisions, each under command of a separate general. Alexander was generali imo of Greece."-Sir T. Browne.