Pertaining to, or designating, the genus or class, as distinguished from that which characterizes the species or Individual. Universal, not particularized; as opposed to special. Principal or central; as opposed to local. Open or available to all, as opposed to select. Obtaining commonly, or recognized universally; as opposed to particular. Universal or unbounded; as opposed to limited. Comprehending the whole, or directed to the whole; as distinguished from anything applying to or designed for a portion only.
As a noun, the word is the title of a principal officer in the army, usually one who commands a whole army, division, corps, or brigade. In the United States army, the rank of “general” is the highest possible, next to the commander in chief, and is only occasionally created. The officers next in rank are lieutenant general, major general, and brigadier general. General assembly. A name given in some of the United States to the senate and house of representatives, which compose the legislative body. See State v. Gear, 5 Ohio Dec 569. General council. (1) A council consisting of members of the Roman Catholic Church from most parts of the world, but not from every part, as an ecumenical council. (2) One of the names of the English parliament-General court. The name given to the legislature of Massachusetts and of New Hampshire, in colonial times, and subsequently by their constitutions; so called because the colonial legislature of Massachusetts grew out of the general court or meeting of the Massachusetts Company. Cent. Diet. See Citizens’ Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Topeka, 20 Wall. 066, 22 L. Ed. 455. General credit. The character of a witness as one generally worthy of credit. According to Bouvier, there is a distinction between this and “particular credit,” which may be affected by proof of particular facts relating to the particular action. See Bemis v. Kyle, 5 Abb. Prac. (N. S.) (N. Y.) 233. General field. Several distinct lots or pieces of land inclosed and fenced in as one common field. Mansfield v. Hawkes, 14 Mass. 440. General inclosure act. The statute 41 Geo. III. c. 100, which consolidates a number of regulations as to the inclosure of common fields and waste lands. General interest. In speaking of matters of public and general interest, the terms “public” and “general” are sometimes used as synonyms. But in regard to the admissibility of hearsay evidence, a distinction has been taken between them, the term “public” being strictly applied to that which concerns every member of the state, and the term “general” being confined to a lesser, though still a considerable, portion of the community. Tayl. Ev. s 609. General land-office. In the United States, one of the bureaus of the interior department, which has charge of the survey, sale, granting of patents, and other matters relating to the public lands.
As to general “Acceptance,” “Administration,” “Agent,” “Appearance,” “Assignment,” “Average,” “Benefit,” “Challenge,” “Character,” “Charge,” “Covenant,” “Creditor,” “Custom,” “Damages,” “Demurrer,” “Denial,” “Deposit,” “Devise,” “Election,” “Execution,” “Executor,” “Finding,” “Fund,” “Gaol Delivery,” “Guardian,” “Imparlance,” “Insurance,” “Intent,” “Issue,” “Jurisdiction,” “Law,” “Legacy,” “Letter of Credit,” “Lien,” “Malice,” “Meeting,” “Monition,” “Mortgage,” “Occupant,” “Orders,” “Owner,” “Partnership,” “Power,” “Property,” “Replication,” “Restraint of Trade,” “Retainer,” “Return Day,” “Rules,” “Sessions,” “Ship,” “Statute,” “Tail,” “Tenancy,” “Term,” “Traverse,” “Usage,” “Verdict,” “Warrant,” and “Warranty,” see those titles.