generality
Meaning
The quality or state of being general rather than specific or detailed.
A statement, principle, or idea that is general, broad, and not specific.
Structure
Usage
He spoke in broad generalities, avoiding any concrete promises.
The generality of the rule means it can be applied to many different situations.
Her argument suffered from a lack of evidence and an overreliance on sweeping generalities.
Etymology
The word 'generality' traces its lineage to the Latin generalis, meaning "pertaining to a whole kind or class," which itself derives from genus (birth, race, kind). The suffix -ity, originating from Latin -itas, is a prolific noun-forming element that denotes a state or condition. Thus, the literal construction "the state of being general" evolved from a concrete association with a whole class or genus into the modern abstract meanings. These encompass both the quality of lacking specificity and the broad, often vague, statements that result from this quality, illustrating a shift from describing a collective attribute to characterizing an intellectual or rhetorical form.
Analysis
- general: From Latin generalis (pertaining to a whole class, kind, or genus). In this word, it functions as the adjectival root conveying the sense of "broad" or "common to all." - ity: From Latin -itas (noun-forming suffix denoting state or quality). In this word, it functions as a suffix that transforms the adjective into an abstract noun.