GENERALIZE

generalize, generalise

(verb) become systemic and spread throughout the body; “this kind of infection generalizes throughout the immune system”

popularize, popularise, vulgarize, vulgarise, generalize, generalise

(verb) cater to popular taste to make popular and present to the general public; bring into general or common use; “They popularized coffee in Washington State”; “Relativity Theory was vulgarized by these authors”

generalize, generalise, extrapolate, infer

(verb) draw from specific cases for more general cases

generalize, generalise

(verb) speak or write in generalities

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

generalize (third-person singular simple present generalizes, present participle generalizing, simple past and past participle generalized)

To speak in generalities, or in vague terms.

To infer or induce from specific cases to more general cases or principles.

To derive or deduce (a general concept or principle) from particular facts.

Synonyms

• (speak in generalities): See also generalize

Antonyms

• (speak in generalities): See also specify

• (infer from specific cases): specialize

Source: Wiktionary

Gen"er*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Generalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Generalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. généraliser.]

1. To bring under a genus or under genera; to view in relation to a genus or to genera. Copernicus generalized the celestial motions by merely referring them to the moon's motion. Newton generalized them still more by referring this last to the motion of a stone through the air. W. Nicholson.

2. To apply to other genera or classes; to use with a more extensive application; to extend so as to include all special cases; to make universal in application, as a formula or rule. When a fact is generalized, our discontent is quited, and we consider the generality itself as tantamount to an explanation. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. To derive or deduce (a general conception, or a general principle) from particulars. A mere conclusion generalized from a great multitude of facts. Coleridge.

Gen"er*al*ize, v. i.

Definition: To form into a genus; to view objects in their relations to a genus or class; to take general or comprehensive views.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition