Etymology Map
Back to all words

General

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means affecting all; a high military officer

Where does the word "general" come from? It comes from Latin generalis, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
generalis
Latin · ancient
"of the whole kind"
from 'genus', kind
2
Stage 2 of 3
general
Old French · medieval
"general"
applying to all
3
Stage 3 of 3
general
English · 1200s
"common to all"
the military rank is short for 'captain general'
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

General’s story begins in Latin: generalis meant “of the whole kind.” From 'genus', kind. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as general. Applying to all. It reached English by 1200s as general. The military rank is short for 'captain general'. Today, general means affecting all; a high military officer.