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generalissimo

generalissimo

3 9.9
The top army leader in charge of many armies
  • noun
  • /ˌdʒɛnəˈlɪsɪmoʊ/
translation icon : generalísimo
  • The generalissimo wishes to tell you communism is a disease of the heart.

Examples

  • Now with the threat of annihilation temporarily forestalled, MacArthur pays a worried visit to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Nationalist Chinese on Formosa.

  • Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek once compared the invading Japanese to a disease of the skin, but the Communists to a disease of the heart (Hu 2006).

    Academic text (2017)
  • The generalissimo issues the following order.

  • The generalissimo spent three months in the Soviet Union.

    Academic text (1992)
  • No one can replace the generalissimo in the hearts of his people.

  • We are guaranteed the protection of the generalissimo himself.

  • Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek will generously compensate you and your crew in gold after you successfully reach port.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Chiang came to Taiwan as generalissimo (tsung-tsai) of the Kuomintang (KMT) party.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The generalissimo issues the following order.

  • We are guaranteed the protection of the generalissimo himself.

Synonyms

commander
vsgeneralissimo
3.6

A person in charge of a group who gives orders and leads them

is far larger in scope, meaning ultimate control over many armies or countries
general
vsgeneralissimo
636 4.2

A very high military officer who leads the army, air force, or marines

is higher, indicating authority over several armies or nations rather than one service
commander-in-chief
vsgeneralissimo
  • Formal
23 4.6

The senior military officer who leads a country's armed forces

is broader, holding supreme control across several countries or armies
imperator
vsgeneralissimo
  • Archaic
3 9.9

An old title given to a Roman general after victory

is different, focusing on a modern supreme military leader across nations
field marshal
vsgeneralissimo
  • UK
1 8.6

A very high army rank above general

holds authority beyond rank, often across multiple armies or countries
marshall
vsgeneralissimo
  • UK
1 8.0

A very senior military officer who commands a whole branch of the armed forces

is wider, implying supreme control over multiple armies or nations
strategos
vsgeneralissimo
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A high-ranking military officer in the modern Greek army like a general

is broader, meaning supreme command over multiple armies or countries
full general
vsgeneralissimo
  • Specialized
7.4

An army officer of the highest rank who commands large forces

lacks the extra supreme, cross-army or cross-country command scope

Surface Forms

generalissimo singular

Morphology

generalissimo = general (semi-transparent) = general + issimo

The word is formed from 'general' plus the Italian superlative suffix '-issimo', so the rank relation is recognizable, but the borrowed suffix is not productive in English.

Etymology

Generalissimo comes from the common word general and the Italian ending -issimo, which means 'very' or 'most'. So generalissimo literally means 'the most general', and it is used for the highest military commander who has the top command.