lieuˈtenant-ˈgeneral
[After F. lieutenant-général, in which the second word is historically an adj. qualifying the preceding n. In Eng., however, and app. also in Fr., general has been commonly apprehended as a n.]
† 1. gen. One who exercises a delegated rule or command over some extensive region or department; the vicegerent of a kingdom, etc. (Cf. F. lieutenant général du royaume.) Obs.
| c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn xlvi. 176 Made hym seneschall & his leeftenaunt generall of the royalme. a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 244 Duke of Glocester, leuetenaunt generall, and chiefetayne for ye kyng of Englande. Ibid., Hen. VI, 161 b, Longvile, lieuetenant generall for the Frenche kyng. 1701 Lond. Gaz. No. 3709/4 The King of Spain..has made the Count d'Estrees Lieutenant General of Spain at Sea. |
| transf. 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 104 The Deuill himselfe, whose vicegerent or Liefetenant generall in his kingedome of impietie he [the Pope] shewes himselfe to be. |
2. One who acts as deputy to a general. In the British army, an officer in rank next below a general, and next above a major-general.
† Also
lieutenant-general of the ordnance.
In the
U.S. army the office has been held by only a few distinguished individuals beginning with Washington, and is now in abeyance.
| 1589 [T. Cates] Sir F. Drake's W. Ind. Voy. 5 We descried another tall ship..vpon whom Maister Carleill, the Lieutenant Generall, being in the Tiger, vndertooke the chase. [C. ‘commanded the land forces against the Spanish West Indies’ (Dict. Nat. Biog.).] 1618 Bolton Florus ii. viii. (1636) 120 Scipio Africanus..serving voluntary under him [his brother] there, as Lieutenant General. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. ii. §26 The Earl of Essex was made lievetenant-general of the army. a 1671 Ld. Fairfax Mem. (1699) 84 Lieutenant General Cromwell commanded the left wing of the horse. 1691–2 in Wood's Life 23 Jan., Commissions are under the seale to make the duke of Ormond and Sir John Lanier lieutenant generalls. 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3822/4 Her Majesty has been pleased to constitute..the Rt. Hon. John Granville Esq.; Lieutenant-General..of the Ordnance. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xvii. II. 37 The lieutenant-generals of the Roman armies, the military counts and dukes..were allowed the rank and title of Respectable. 1798 J. Adams Wks. (1854) IX. 159, I..congratulate them and the public on this great event, the General's [sc. Washington] acceptance of his appointment as Lieutenant-General and Commander-in-chief of the army. 1808 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1837) IV. 73, I shall be the junior of the Lieutenant Generals; however I am ready to serve the government wherever and as they please. 1855 W. Sargent Braddock's Exped. 290 On 26th February, 1755, he was made..a lieutenant-general. 1878 J. A. Garfield in N. Amer. Rev. CXXVI. 452 The office of lieutenant-general was virtually stripped of all authority. |
| transf. c 1620 Day Parlt. of Bees, Char. i. (1641), 'Gainst all these outlaws, Martin, bee thou Lievetenant Generall. |