GENERAL, a term which, from its pointing to all or most of the members of a class, the whole of an area, etc., as opposed to "particular" or to "local," is hence used in various shades of meaning for that which is prevalent, usual, widespread, or miscel laneous, indefinite, vague (Lat. generalis, of or relating to a genus, kind or class). It has been added to the titles of various officials, military officers and others; thus the head of a religious order is the "superior-general," more usually the "general," and we find the same combination in such offices as that of "accountant general," "postmaster-general," "attorney-" or "solicitor-general," and many others, the additional word implying that the official in question is of superior rank, as having a wider authority or sphere of activity. This is the use that accounts for the applica tion of the term, as a substantive, to a military officer of superior rank, a "general officer," or "general," who commands or admin isters bodies of troops larger than a regiment, or consisting of more than one arm of the service (see also OFFICERS). It was towards the end of the 16th century that the word began to be used in its present sense as a noun, and in the armies of the time the "general" was commander-in-chief, the "lieutenant-general" commander of the horse and second in command of the army, and the "major-general" (strictly "sergeant-major-general") corn mander of the foot and chief of the staff. Field marshals, who have now the highest rank, were formerly subordinate to the general officers. These titles—general, lieutenant-general and major-general—are still applied in most armies to the first, second and third grades of general officer. It may be noted that during the 17th century "general" was not confined to a commanding officer of an army, and was also equivalent to "admiral" ; thus when under the Protectorate the office of lord high admiral was put into commission, the three first commissioners, Blake, Edward Popham and Richard Deane, were styled "generals at sea."