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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

General, -ale, -all(e, a. Also: gennerall, genrall. [ME. generale (c 1290), -al, OF. general, L. generālis.]

1. General, in usual senses. a. In predicative use. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 5.
For that oyse is generale In haly kyrk c1450-2 Howlat 269.
The prelatis thair apperans proponit generale 1558-66 Knox I. 370.
To no point wald sche answer directlie; bot in all thingis sche was so generall and so ambigua, that hir craft appeared to all men a1568 Scott vi. 2.
Luve preysis, but comparesone, Both gentill, sempill, generall 1578 Rec. Earld. Orkney 142.
Allegand the samin [discharge] nocht to be formell and that the samin wes generale

b. Preceding or following a noun denoting an action, practice, rule, etc.(1) 1398 Acts I. 574/1.
It is ordanyt that thar be raysit a general contribucion of ij^m pound c1420 Wynt. v. 1496.
In a generalle lettyre … Off God and mannys unyown 1456 Hay I. 102/32.
As generale knaulage may be understandin Ib. II. 155/8.
A generale reule of … takenis of gude condiciounis of baillies a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 561.
This leif quhilk figuris generale iugement 1562-3 Winȝet II. 7/2.
As it is a general reul to al richt 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 50.
Gif the erll … sould haif general remissioun for all reif and oppressioun a1578 Pitsc. II. 382/18.
Ane parliament … quhairin the king certified … his generall rewocatioun(2) 1456 Hay I. 15/16.
Sayand that the last tromp … salbe the resurrexioun generale Ib. 104/16.
The pape, quhilk has all power generale in erde a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 851.
Ȝe graith ȝour gatis for jugement generale 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 33.
In all processionis generale and all vtheris conuentionis and counsalis neidfull amangis thame a1570-86 Maitl. F. xvii. 42.
In fyris and processioun generale

c. Similarly with nouns designating persons.See also lutennent and vicar. a1400 Leg. S. xv. 15.
To sic honour he callit Paule … & mad him doctor generale, To preche in this warld hale 1473 Lanark & Renfrew 194.
Frere John Mure, wicar generall of the ordour of prechouris a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1381.
Within a crage now closit is etern Off all the warld the generall saluitour 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 326/1.
Our custumaris generale attour all the partis of our realme 1565 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 17.
Patrik Lord Lyndsay … , bailȝe generall of the priorie of Sanctandrois c1575 Balfour Practicks 232.
The ȝounger brother-german … sould be servit and retowrit air general or universal to him a1578 Pitsc. II. 311/9.
My lord Boyd was proclamit generall collectour of all the … rentis pertening to the kirkis of Scotland 1599 Montgomery Mem. 241.
Thair said wardane generall to subscriue thir presentis Ib.
The generall warden

2. a. General Council. (See also Counsail n. 2 b.) 1456 Hay I. 21/11.
Quhen the Emperour Constantyn … maid a generale counsaile Ib. 22/35.
The grete generale counsele of Leoun pape 1551 Hamilton Cat. 5.
Agreand to the decisiouns & determinatiouns of general counsallis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 79/10.
Sen na hæretik … denyit the first four general counsellis

b. General Assembly (of the Church of Scotland). 1558-66 Knox II. 412.
The General Assemblie of the kirk approcheit Ib. 421.
The Generall Assemblie halden in Junij, 1564 1582 Colville Lett. 5.
In the Generall Assemble … it wes votit that the Bishop suld be simple deposit 1638 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 412.
Anent the tryell of … Mr. Johne Lundie his alledgit commissione or power of agentrie to the generall assemblie 1660 St. A. Presb. 76.
The Presbyterie resolves to doe nothing that may prejudge the mater in a Generall Assemblie

3. Absol. in the phrase in general. c1420 Wynt. vi. 35.
Till honowre ymage devotly Off All Halowys in generalle 1456 Hay I. 108/27.
Na man may mak were in generale but leve a1500 Henr. III. 158/59.
We exhort … every man … For our sawlis to pray in general c1500-c1512 Dunbar Flyt. 2.
Thair is ane thing compylit In generale c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5195.
Antechristis in generall Hes bene, and now ar mony one a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxiii. 11.
Thocht I say in generale, Sum sall it tak in speciale 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 22.
To ȝour l[ordschip] in speciall, and in generall to the haill communite