generable
GENERABLE, a. That may be engendered, begotten or produced.
general
GENERAL, a. L. generalis, from genus, a kind.
1. Properly, relating to a whole genus or kind; and hence, relating to a whole class or order. Thus we speak of a general law of the animal or vegetable economy. This word, though from genus, kind, is used to express whatever is common to an order, class, kind, sort or species, or to any company or association of individuals.
2. Comprehending many species or individuals; not special or particular; as, it is not logical to draw a general inference or conclusion from a particular fact.
3. Lax in signification; not restrained or limited to a particular import; not specific; as a loose and general expression.
4. Public; common; relating to or comprehending the whole community; as the general interest or safety of a nation.
5. Common to many or the greatest number; as a general opinion; a general custom.
6. Not directed to a single object.
If the same thing be peculiarly evil, that general aversion will be turned into a particular hatred against it.
7. Having a relation to all; common to the whole. Adam, our general sire.
8. Extensive, though not universal; common; usual.
This word is prefixed or annexed to words, to express the extent of their application. Thus a general assembly is an assembly of a whole body, in fact or by representation. In Scotland, it is the whole church convened by its representatives. In America, a legislature is sometimes called a general assembly.
In logic, a general term is a term which is the sign of a general idea.
An attorney general, and a solicitor general, is an officer who conducts suits and prosecutions for the king or for a nation or state, and whose authority is general in the state or kingdom.
A vicar general has authority as vicar or substitute over a whole territory or jurisdiction.
An adjutant general assists the general of an army, distributes orders, receives returns, &c.
The word general thus annexed to a name of office, denotes chief or superior; as a commissary general, quarter-master general.
In the line, a general officer is one who commands an army, a division or a brigade.
GENERAL, n. The whole; the total; that which comprehends all or the chief part; opposed to particular.
In particulars our knowledge begins, and so spreads itself by degrees to generals.
A history painter paints man in general.
1. In general, in the main; for the most part; not always or universally.
I have shown that he excels, in general,under each of these heads.
2. The chief commander of an army. But to distinguish this officer from other generals, he is often called general in chief. The officer second in rank is called lieutenant general.
3. The commander of a division of an army or militia, usually called a major general.
4. The commander of a brigade, called a brigadier general.
5. A particular beat of drum or march, being that which, in the morning, gives notice for the infantry to be in readiness to march.
6. The chief of an order of monks, or of all the houses or congregations established under the same rule.
7. The public; the interest of the whole; the vulgar. Not in use.
generality
GENERALITY, n.
1. The state of being general; the quality of including species or particulars.
2. The main body; the bulk; the greatest part; as the generality of a nation or of mankind.
generalization
GENERALIZATION, n. The act of extending from particulars to generals; the act of making general.
generalize
GENERALIZE, v.t. To extend from particulars or species to genera, or to whole kinds or classes; to make general, or common to a number.
Copernicus generalized the celestial motions, by merely referring them to the moons motion. Newton generalized them still more, by referring this last to the motion of a stone through the air.
1. To reduce to a genus.
generally
GENERALLY, adv. In general; commonly; extensively, though not universally; most frequently, but not without exceptions. A hot summer generally follows a cold winter. Men are generally more disposed to censure than to praise,as they generally suppose it easier to depress excellence in others than to equal or surpass it by elevating themselves.
1. In the main; without detail; in the whole taken together.
Generally speaking, they live very quietly.
generalness
GENERALNESS, n. Wide extent, though short of universality; frequency; commonness.
generant
GENERANT, n. L. generans. The power that generates; the power or principle that produces.
generate
GENERATE, v.t. L. genero. See Gender.
1. To beget; to procreate; to propagate; to produce a being similar to the parent. Every animal generates his own species.
2. To produce; to cause to be; to bring into life; as great whales which the waters generated.
3. To cause; to produce; to form.
Sounds are generated where there is no air at all.
Whatever generates a quantity of good chyle, must likewise generate milk.
In music, any given sound generates with itself its octave and two other sounds extremely sharp, viz, its twelfth above or the octave of its fifth, and the seventeenth above.
generated
GENERATED, pp. Begotten; engendered; procreated; produced; formed.
generating
GENERATING, ppr. Begetting; procreating; producing; forming.
generation
GENERATION, n. The act of begetting; procreation, as of animals.
1. Production; formation; as the generation of sounds or of curves or equations.
2. A single succession in natural descent, as the children of the same parents; hence, an age. Thus we say, the third, the fourth, or the tenth generation. Gen.15.16.
3. The people of the same period, or living at the same time.
O faithless and perverse generation. Luke 9.
4. Genealogy; a series of children or descendants from the same stock.
This is the book of the generations of Adam. Gen.5.
5. A family; a race.
6. Progeny; offspring.
generative
GENERATIVE, a. Having the power of generating or propagating its own species.
1. Having the power of producing.
2. Prolific.
generator
GENERATOR, n. He or that which begets, causes or produces.
1. In music, the principal sound or sounds by which others are produced. Thus the lowest C for the treble of the harpsichord, besides its octave, will strike an attentive ear with its twelfth above, or G in alt., and with its seventeenth above, or E in alt. Hence C is called their generator, the G and E its products or harmonics.
2. A vessel in which steam is generated.
generical
GENERICAL, a. L. genus. Pertaining to a genus or kind; comprehending the genus, as distinct from species,or from another genus. A generic description is a description of a genus; a generic difference is a difference in genus; a generic name is the denomination which comprehends all the species, as of animals, plants or fossils, which have certain essential and peculiar characters in common. Thus Canis is the generic name of animals of the dog kind; Felis, of the cat kind; Cervus, of the deer kind.
generically
GENERICALLY, adv. With regard to genus; as an animal generically distinct from another, or two animals generically allied.
generous
GENEROUS, a. L. generosus. See Gender.
1. Primarily, being of honorable birth or origin; hence, noble; honorable; magnanimous; applied to persons; as a generous foe; a generous critic.
2. Noble; honorable; applied to things; as a generous virtue; generous boldness. It is used also to denote like qualities in irrational animals; as a generous pack of hounds.
3. Liberal; bountiful; munificent; free to give; as a generous friend; a generous father.
4. Strong; full of spirit; as generous wine.
5. Full; overflowing; abundant; as a generous cup; a generous table.
6. Sprightly; courageous; as a generous steed.
generously
GENEROUSLY, adv. Honorable; not meanly.
1. Nobly; magnanimously.
2. Liberally; munificently.
generousness
GENEROUSNESS, n. The quality of being generous; magnanimity; nobleness of mind.
1. Liberality; munificence; generosity.