characteristic vs general

characteristic

adj
  • Being a distinguishing feature of a person or thing. 

noun
  • A distinguishing feature of a person or thing. 

  • For a given field or ring, a natural number that is either the smallest positive number n such that n instances of the multiplicative identity (1) summed together yield the additive identity (0) or, if no such number exists, the number 0. 

  • The integer part of a logarithm. 

  • The distinguishing features of a navigational light on a lighthouse etc by which it can be identified (colour, pattern of flashes etc.). 

general

adj
  • Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole etc.; as opposed to specific or particular. 

  • Not limited in use or application; applicable to the whole or every member of a class or category. 

  • Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite. 

  • Applied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms; pre-eminent. 

  • Not limited to a specific class; miscellaneous, concerned with all branches of a given subject or area. 

  • Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual. 

verb
  • To lead (soldiers) as a general. 

noun
  • The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces. 

  • A great strategist or tactician. 

  • General anesthesia. 

  • A xiangqi piece, that is moved one point orthogonally and confined within the palace. 

  • A general anesthetic. 

  • The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits. 

  • A commander of naval forces; an admiral. 

  • A general servant; a maid with no specific duties. 

  • The general insurance industry. 

How often have the words characteristic and general occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )