Generall

/ˈdʒɛn(ə)rəl/ noun, adjective

Definition

An archaic or obsolete spelling of 'general,' formerly used in older English texts.

Etymology

From Old French general, from Latin generalis. This spelling (with double-l) appears in Middle and Early Modern English texts before standardization occurred.

Kelly Says

Finding 'generall' in Shakespeare or the King James Bible shows that spelling was once a free-for-all—people spelled however made sense to them, and it took centuries of printing presses and dictionaries to enforce the single 'general' we use today!

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