Generalizes

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To draw overarching conclusions that apply across various instances or categories
2. Creates broad statements by applying conclusions from individual examples
3. Develops general ideas or principles that cover multiple situations based on particular observations

Etymology: The verb "generalizes" is the third-person singular form of "generalize", which takes its shape from the adjective "general" plus the suffix "-ize". That suffix has a long pedigree: it descends from Ancient Greek "-ízein", which turned nouns and adjectives into verbs meaning "to make into" or "to treat in the manner of". It passed through Late Latin "-izare" and Middle French "-iser" before reaching English. The root word, "general", came into English from Anglo-Norman and Middle French, ultimately from Latin "generalis", which described what belongs to a whole kind or genus, the Latin "genus" meaning "kind" or "birth". So a general statement is one that covers the whole class rather than a single case. To generalize is to move from particular instances to a broad rule, which is exactly what the verb describes when someone draws a wide conclusion from a few examples.

Synonyms: broadens, extends, expands

Antonyms: specializes, restricts, limits