major-general
UK[ˌmeɪdʒə ˈdʒɛn(ə)rəl]US[ˌmeɪdʒər ˈdʒɛn(ə)rəl]
n
A military rank in the British and some other armies, above brigadier and below lieutenant general.
n
A military rank in the US Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, above brigadier general and below lieutenant general.
Morpheme Breakdown
major
general
major
greater
general
overall commander
Etymology
The compound "major-general" is a military title that emerged in the 17th century, combining two terms of Latin origin. "Major," meaning "greater," was used in military contexts to denote a superior officer, as seen in the rank "sergeant major." "General," from the Latin for "pertaining to all," described an officer with overall command. The hyphenated title "major-general" originally implied a "general" officer who was subordinate to the "lieutenant-general" (literally, "deputy-general") but senior to a brigadier. Over time, this specific compound crystallized into a fixed rank within the hierarchical structure of modern armies, signifying a senior commander of a division.
Analysis
Structure: major (greater) + general (overall commander)
- major: From Latin maior (greater, larger), comparative of magnus (great). Functions as an adjective modifying the following noun.
- general: From Latin generalis (pertaining to a whole class, generic), from genus (race, kind). Functions as a noun denoting a high-ranking military officer.
Examples
He was promoted to the rank of major-general after decades of distinguished service.
The major-general addressed the troops before the ceremonial parade.
The division is under the direct command of a major-general.