adj. 一般的,普通的;综合的;大体的
n. 一般;将军,上将;常规
n. (General)人名;(英)杰纳勒尔
general 一般的,通用的,将军
来自词根gen, 生育,词源同generate. 即同种类的,通用的。引申词义将军。
What is common is of frequent occurrence.Used in forming titles from late 14c. with the sense "having general authority or jurisdiction, chief." Phrase in general "without exception, in one body; as a rule, generally, not specifically" is from late 14c. General rule, one applying to an art or science as a whole, is from c. 1400. General store attested by 1810, American English, in reference to the range of goods sold; a general hospital (1737) is one not restricted to one class of persons or type of disease.
What is general admits of comparatively few exceptions: the general opinion (the opinion of the majority); the general welfare.
[J.H.A. Günther, "English Synonyms Explained & Illustrated," Groningen, Netherlands, 1904]