different between government vs generalship

English

Alternative forms

• (nonstandard) gub'mint, gubmint, gummint, gubbamint, guvmint, guvment, gumment, guv'ment, guv'mint, gubbermint, gubment, gub'ment, govermint, guvverment, guvvermint, guverment, guvermint

Etymology

From Middle English governement, from Old French governement (modern French gouvernement), from governer (see govern) + -ment.

Morphologically govern +? -ment

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???v?(n)m?nt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???v?(n)m?nt/
• Hyphenation: gov?ern?ment

Noun

government (countable and uncountable, plural governments)

1. The body with the power to make and/or enforce laws to control a country, land area, people or organization.

   British government has historically centred exclusively on London.
2. (grammar, linguistics) The relationship between a word and its dependents.
3. The state and its administration viewed as the ruling political power.
4. (uncountable) The management or control of a system.
5. The tenure of a chief of state.

Usage notes

In the United States, "government" is considered to be divided into three branches; the legislature (the House of Representatives and the Senate) which makes law, the Administration (under the President) which runs sections of government within the law, and the Courts, which adjudicate on matters of the law. This is a much wider meaning of "government" than exists in other countries where the term "government" means the ruling political force of the prime minister and his/her cabinet ministers (what Americans would call the Administration). In Britain, the administrative organs of the nation are collectively referred to as "the state". In Canada government is used in both senses and neither state nor administration are used. Applied to many countries in continental Europe (when using English), the British usage is common.

In Britain, the word is often capitalised when referring to the UK government.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• ocracy

English

Etymology

From general +? -ship.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d??n(?)??l??p/

Noun

generalship (plural generalships)

1. The position or office of a general. [from 16th c.]
2. The term of office of a military general. [from 17th c.]

   George Washington's generalship was marked by both amazing victories and stunning blunders, neither of which would have happened to someone with more formal officer training.

3. The skills or performance of a good general; military leadership, strategy. [from 17th c.]
   • 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society 2010, p. 277:

     At the same time, awed by the brilliant and daring generalship which had enabled the Russian to capture their city with so small a force, the elders gave him the honorific title of ‘Lion of Tashkent’.

   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 136:

     Virtually the whole of the region fell to Saxe's ingenious generalship.

4. By extension, leadership, good management. [from 18th c.]

   Under my generalship my fine troop of brats picked up every scrap of litter in that lot.