General \Gen"er*al\, a. [F. g['e]n['e]ral, fr. L. generalis. See
Genus.]
1. Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class
or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable
economy.
[1913 Webster]
2. Comprehending many species or individuals; not special or
particular; including all particulars; as, a general
inference or conclusion.
[1913 Webster]
3. Not restrained or limited to a precise import; not
specific; vague; indefinite; lax in signification; as, a
loose and general expression.
[1913 Webster]
4. Common to many, or the greatest number; widely spread;
prevalent; extensive, though not universal; as, a general
opinion; a general custom.
[1913 Webster]
This general applause and cheerful shout
Argue your wisdom and your love to Richard. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
5. Having a relation to all; common to the whole; as, Adam,
our general sire. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
6. As a whole; in gross; for the most part.
[1913 Webster]
His general behavior vain, ridiculous. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
7. Usual; common, on most occasions; as, his general habit or
method.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The word general, annexed to a name of office, usually
denotes chief or superior; as, attorney-general;
adjutant general; commissary general; quartermaster
general; vicar-general, etc.
[1913 Webster]
General agent (Law), an agent whom a principal employs to
transact all his business of a particular kind, or to act
in his affairs generally.
General assembly. See the Note under Assembly.
General average, General Court. See under Average,
Court.
General court-martial (Mil.), the highest military and
naval judicial tribunal.
General dealer (Com.), a shopkeeper who deals in all
articles in common use.
General demurrer (Law), a demurrer which objects to a
pleading in general terms, as insufficient, without
specifying the defects. --Abbott.
General epistle, a canonical epistle.
General guides (Mil.), two sergeants (called the right, and
the left, general guide) posted opposite the right and
left flanks of an infantry battalion, to preserve accuracy
in marching. --Farrow.
General hospitals (Mil.), hospitals established to receive
sick and wounded sent from the field hospitals. --Farrow.
General issue (Law), an issue made by a general plea, which
traverses the whole declaration or indictment at once,
without offering any special matter to evade it.
--Bouvier. --Burrill.
General lien (Law), a right to detain a chattel, etc.,
until payment is made of any balance due on a general
account.
General officer (Mil.), any officer having a rank above
that of colonel.
General orders (Mil.), orders from headquarters published
to the whole command.
General practitioner, in the United States, one who
practices medicine in all its branches without confining
himself to any specialty; in England, one who practices
both as physician and as surgeon.
General ship, a ship not chartered or let to particular
parties.
General term (Logic), a term which is the sign of a general
conception or notion.
General verdict (Law), the ordinary comprehensive verdict
in civil actions, "for the plaintiff" or "for the
defendant". --Burrill.
General warrant (Law), a warrant, now illegal, to apprehend
suspected persons, without naming individuals.
Syn: Syn. General, Common, Universal.
Usage: Common denotes primarily that in which many share; and
hence, that which is often met with. General is
stronger, denoting that which pertains to a majority
of the individuals which compose a genus, or whole.
Universal, that which pertains to all without
exception. To be able to read and write is so common
an attainment in the United States, that we may
pronounce it general, though by no means universal.
[1913 Webster]
|
Warrant \War"rant\, n. [OE. warant, OF. warant a warrant, a
defender, protector, F. garant, originally a p. pr. pf German
origin, fr. OHG. wer[=e]n to grant, warrant, G. gew[aum]hren;
akin to OFries. wera. Cf. Guarantee.]
[1913 Webster]
1. That which warrants or authorizes; a commission giving
authority, or justifying the doing of anything; an act,
instrument, or obligation, by which one person authorizes
another to do something which he has not otherwise a right
to do; an act or instrument investing one with a right or
authority, and thus securing him from loss or damage;
commission; authority. Specifically:
[1913 Webster]
(a) A writing which authorizes a person to receive money
or other thing.
[1913 Webster]
(b) (Law) A precept issued by a magistrate authorizing an
officer to make an arrest, a seizure, or a search, or
do other acts incident to the administration of
justice.
[1913 Webster]
(c) (Mil. & Nav.) An official certificate of appointment
issued to an officer of lower rank than a commissioned
officer. See Warrant officer, below.
[1913 Webster]
2. That which vouches or insures for anything; guaranty;
security.
[1913 Webster]
I give thee warrant of thy place. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
His worth is warrant for his welcome hither. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. That which attests or proves; a voucher.
[1913 Webster]
4. Right; legality; allowance. [Obs.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Bench warrant. (Law) See in the Vocabulary.
Dock warrant (Com.), a customhouse license or authority.
General warrant. (Law) See under General.
Land warrant. See under Land.
Search warrant. (Law) See under Search, n.
Warrant of attorney (Law), written authority given by one
person to another empowering him to transact business for
him; specifically, written authority given by a client to
his attorney to appear for him in court, and to suffer
judgment to pass against him by confession in favor of
some specified person. --Bouvier.
Warrant officer, a noncommissioned officer, as a sergeant,
corporal, bandmaster, etc., in the army, or a
quartermaster, gunner, boatswain, etc., in the navy.
Warrant to sue and defend.
(a) (O. Eng. Law) A special warrant from the crown,
authorizing a party to appoint an attorney to sue or
defend for him.
(b) A special authority given by a party to his attorney
to commence a suit, or to appear and defend a suit in
his behalf. This warrant is now disused. --Burrill.
[1913 Webster]
|