generale Italian · revision 38093

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1252–1258, Storie de Troia e de Roma (Roman)|origins=ine-pro *ǵenh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /d͡ʒe.neˈra.le/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''generale''' (adjective, plural ''generali''; noun ''m'' and ''f'', plural ''generali''; jocular feminine ''generalessa'')^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ Old forms include northern [[roa-oit|çenerale]] and [[roa-oit|çeneral]], and [[roa-oit|gennerale]].^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|generālis|t=belonging to a kind or species]], from [[m|la|genus|t=birth, race, kind]] and the suffix [[m|la|-ālis]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) It was spread through Late Latin and the medieval schools, and came to be opposed to [[la|speciālis|t=particular]] on the model of Greek.^(DEI|1782)^(DELI 1999) Latin “genus” goes back to [[ine-pro|*ǵénh₁os|t=race]], from the root [[ine-pro|*ǵenh₁-|t=to beget]].^(Wiktionary) [[fr|général]] is recorded in the 12th century, and [[es|general]] has the same source.^(GDLI|6, 646)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ DELI and Nocentini give the noun a separate article, but it is the adjective used as a noun: a “generale” was first a “capitano generale”, a captain over the whole army, and the noun arose by ellipsis.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|1782) Nocentini notes the parallel [[fr|capitaine général]], of the same 14th century, and that “general” spread from these titles into the European languages.^(Nocentini 2010) Already in Late Latin the adjective was added to the titles of officials.^(DEI|1782)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is the ''Storie de Troia e de Roma'', a Roman text of 1252–1258.^(TLIO) DELI's first dated sense, “concerning a whole class of persons, things or facts”, is in Brunetto Latini before 1292, and “vague, generic” in Bono Giamboni at the same time.^(DELI 1999) Latini contrasts what is ''generale'', comprising many other things, with its parts.^(GDLI|6, 646)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun first named the head of a religious order: Catherine of Siena uses it before 1380.^(DELI 1999) ''Capitano generale'' is in Antonio Pucci before 1388, and the military ''generale'' in Machiavelli before 1527.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) Generals of the sea and of the fleet are recorded in the 16th century.^(Prati 1951)^(GRADIT 2003) The superlative [[generalissimo]] is older than the military noun, from before 1332, and later named the supreme commander of an army.^(DELI 1999) [[generalessa|alt=Generalessa]] was a joke for a general's wife in Foscolo (1801), and Carducci used it for a domineering woman (1881).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In the adjective, ''indice generale'' and ''norma generale'' are recorded in 1887, and the plural [[generalità]] for a person's particulars (name, date of birth) in 1790.^(DELI 1999) In older military language ''la generale'' was the drum signal for a general assembly.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1252–1258 – The ''Storie de Troia e de Roma'' use ''generale''.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1292 – Brunetto Latini uses ''generale'' “general”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1332 – ''Generalissimo'' in Alberto della Piagentina.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1380 – Catherine of Siena uses ''generale'' for the head of an order.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1388 – ''Capitano generale'' in Antonio Pucci.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1527 – Machiavelli uses ''generale'' for a military commander.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1799 – ''Generale di divisione'' in the constitution of the Republic of Lucca.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1801 – Foscolo uses ''generalessa''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|general]], applying to a whole class of facts, things or persons, as opposed to [[particolare|alt=particular]]: ''Prima di tutto spiegherò le regole generali.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Common to all or most people: ''Il malcontento era generale.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # In which a whole category takes part: ''sciopero generale'', ''elezioni generali''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # In charge of a whole organization, or holding its highest rank: ''direttore generale'', ''quartier generale''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Vague, not detailed: ''Mi ha dato solo un'idea generale del progetto.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(military)'' A general, an officer of the highest rank: ''generale di brigata'', ''generale di divisione''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(religion)'' The superior of a religious order or congregation: ''il generale dei gesuiti''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(only singular)'' What is general, as opposed to the particular: ''Il generale conta più dei singoli casi.''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[generalità]]

+ * [[generalizzare]]

+ * [[generalizzazione]]

+ * [[generalmente]]

+ * [[generalato]]

+ * [[generalessa]]

+ * [[generalissimo]]

+ * [[generalizio]]

+ * [[generalista]]

+ * [[generaleggiare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[genere]]

+ * [[la|generālis]]

+ * [[fr|général]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''In generale'' means “in general, without going into detail”, and ''stare sulle generali'' “to speak in vague terms”.^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020) The masculine noun is often used for a woman general too.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}