general

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵenh₁-
2. Proto-Indo-European*ǵénh₁os
3. Proto-Italic*genos
4. Latingenus, generis
5. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
6. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
7. Latingenerāli
8. Anglo-Normangenera
9. Middle Frenchgenera
10. Latingenerālis
11. Middle Englishgeneral
12. English todaygeneral

From Middle English general, in turn from Anglo-Norman general, generall, Middle French general, and their source, Latin generālis, from genus (“class, kind”) + -ālis (“-al”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 13th c. Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole, etc.; common to all, universal.
• from 14th c. 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.
• from 14th c. Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual.
• from 14th c. Not limited in use or application; applicable across a broad range.
• from 16th c. Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite.
• from 16th c. Not of a specific class; miscellaneous.
• from 16th c. The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces.
• from 16th c. A great strategist or tactician.