Adjective

(en adjective)

Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole etc.; as opposed to (specific) or (particular).

* c. 1495 , (John Skelton), "Vppon a deedman's hed":

It is generall / To be mortall: / I haue well espyde / No man may hym hyde / From Deth holow eyed [...].

* 1842 , Douglas Jerrold, "Mr Peppersorn ‘At Home’", Cakes and Ale :

"Among us!" was the general shout, and Peppersorn sat frozen to his chair.

* 1946 , (Bertrand Russell), History of Western Philosophy , I.27:

Undoubtedly the age of the Antonines was much better than any later age until the Renaissance, from the point of view of the general happiness.

* 2006 , Ruth Sutherland, "Invite public to the private equity party", The Observer , 15 Oct 06:

One advantage of having profitable companies in Britain is that they pay large sums in corporate tax into the Exchequer, which in theory at least is used for the general good.

Applied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms; pre-eminent.

* 1865 , Edward Cust, Lives of the Warriors of the Thirty Years War , p. 527:

For these successes he obtained the rank of Field-Marshal General .

* 2002 , James Turner, Libertines and Radicals in Early Modern London , p. 122:

He becomes the chief chartered libertine, the whoremaster-general flourishing his "standard" over a female army [...].

Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual.

* 1817 , (Walter Scott), Rob Roy , IX:

‘I can't quite afford you the sympathy you expect upon this score,’ I replied; ‘the misfortune is so general , that it belongs to one half of the species [...].’

* 2008 , John Patterson, "Home movies", The Guardian , 20 Dec 08:

The general opinion on Baz Luhrmann's overstuffed epic Australia seems to be that it throws in everything but the kitchen sink, and then tosses that in too, just to be sure.

Not limited in use or application; applicable to the whole or every member of a class or category.

* 1924 , Time , 17 Mar 1924:

M. Venizelos went to Athens from Paris early last January in response to a general invitation from the Greek populace.

* 2009 , Douglas P Zipes, Saturday Evening Post , vol. 281:1, p. 20:

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a general term indicating a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) coming from the top chambers of the heart - in essence, above (supra) the lower chamber (ventricular).

Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite.

* 1817 , (Walter Scott), Rob Roy , X:

As she thus spoke, the entrance of the servants with dinner cut off all conversation but that of a general nature.

* 2006 , Kevin Nance, "Ghosts of the White City", Chicago Sun-Times , 16 Jul 06:

The quick answer is that the 1893 Exposition was simply so important -- "the greatest event in the history of the country since the Civil War," as Harper's put it that October -- but that feels too general .

* 2008 , Robert P Maloney, "The Quiet Carpenter", America , vol. 199:19, p. 18:

Given the scarcity of relevant historical detail in the New Testament, we are left with only a general outline about Joseph.

Not limited to a specific class; miscellaneous, concerned with all branches of a given subject or area.

* 1941 , (W Somerset Maugham), Up at the Villa , Vintage 2004, p. 24:

There was a moment's pause. The Princess broke in with some casual remark and once more the conversation became general .

* 1947 , "Russian Catechism", Time , 20 Oct 1947:

Already in the primary school work is conducted for the purpose of equipping the pupils with those elements of general knowledge which are closely related to the military preparation of future warriors.

* 2007 , Alan Cheuse, "A Little Death", Southern Review , vol. 43:3, p. 692:

His measured, springless walk was the walk of the skilled countryman as distinct from the desultory shamble of the general labourer [...].

Adjective

(en adjective)

Common among the general public; generally accepted.

* 2007 , Joe Queenan, The Guardian , 23 Aug 2007:

Contrary to popular misconception, MacArthur Park is not the worst song ever written.

(legal) Concerning the people; public.

Pertaining to or deriving from the people or general public.

* 1594 , (Richard Hooker), Preface :

At the coming of Calvin thither, the form of their civil regiment was popular , as it continueth at this day: neither king, nor duke, nor nobleman of any authority or power over them, but officers chosen by the people out of themselves, to order all things with public consent.

* 2009 , (Diarmaid MacCulloch), A History of Christianity , Penguin 2010, p. 645:

Luther in popular memory had become a saint, his picture capable of saving houses from burning down, if it was fixed to the parlour wall.

* 2009 , Graham Smith, The Guardian , letter, 27 May 2009:

Jonathan Freedland brilliantly articulates the size and nature of the challenge and we must take his lead in setting out a radical agenda for a new republic based on the principle of popular sovereignty.

(obsolete) Of low birth, not noble; vulgar, plebian.

*, II.17:

*:Popular and shallow-headed mindes, cannot perceive the grace or comelinesse, nor judge of a smooth and quaint discourse.

Aimed at ordinary people, as opposed to specialists etc.; intended for general consumption.

* 2009 , ‘Meltdown’, The Economist , 8 Apr 2009:

As a work of popular science it is exemplary: the focus may be the numbers, but most of the mathematical legwork is confined to the appendices and the accompanying commentary is amusing and witty, as well as informed.

(obsolete) Cultivating the favour of the common people.

* Such popular humanity is treason. -

Liked by many people; generally pleasing, widely admired.

*{{quote-book, year=2006, author=(Edwin Black)

, chapter=2, title= Internal Combustion , passage=The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.}}

* 2011 , The Observer , 2 Oct.:

They might have split 24 years ago, but the Smiths remain as popular as ever, and not just among those who remember them first time around.

*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-03

, author=David S. Senchina, volume=101, issue=2, page=134, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= Athletics and Herbal Supplements , passage=Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the past two decades. At the top of the list of popular herbs are echinacea and ginseng, whereas garlic, St. John's wort, soybean, ephedra and others are also surging in popularity or have been historically prevalent.}}

Adapted to the means of the common people; cheap.