ex-general
UK[ˌeksˈdʒenrəl]US[ˌeksˈdʒenərəl]
n
A person who formerly held the rank of general in the armed forces.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
general
ex
former
general
military rank
Etymology
The term is a modern English compound formed by directly attaching the Latin prefix ex- to the noun general. The prefix ex-, deriving from the Latin preposition meaning "out of, from," is widely productive in English to indicate a former state or status, as seen in words like ex-president or ex-wife. The word general itself comes from the Latin generalis, meaning "pertaining to all," which evolved through Old French to denote a commander of a whole army. Therefore, ex-general follows a transparent and logical compounding pattern, literally meaning "former army commander," to specify someone who has relinquished that specific high-ranking military position.
Analysis
Structure: ex (former) + general (military rank)
- ex: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "out of, from, former, or without." In this context, it denotes a former status.
- general: A noun of Latin origin (from generalis), referring to a high-ranking military officer. In this compound, it retains its core meaning.
Examples
The ex-general now serves as a security consultant for private firms.
In his memoirs, the ex-general detailed his experiences during the conflict.
Several ex-generals were invited to advise the parliamentary committee on defense.