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I am going to find an appropriate antonym for "ad hoc" (done for a particular purpose only) to be used as the adjective of a kind of general-purpose device. The best choice can be "general-purpose", itself, or maybe versatile. I couldn't find an antonym in common sources. Can anyone suggest the best choice?

E.g. A general-purpose robot

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    Please add in an example sentence where you would use this word.
    – Matt E. Эллен
    Commented Mar 10, 2015 at 11:12
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    how about "planned, nonspecific, general"
    – G.L.P
    Commented Mar 10, 2015 at 11:14
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    A sentence such as: "This appliance is _______ ." This is a/an ________ device"
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented Mar 10, 2015 at 11:20
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    The literal antonym for ad hoc in Latin is ab istud or ab illud. Ad hoc means "to this (here by me)", ab istud means "from that (there by you)", and ab illud means "from that (over there)". Hoc, istud, and illud are all neuter accusative pronouns, and can be used for places like here and there as well as things.
    – John Lawler
    Commented Mar 11, 2015 at 1:49
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    The problem, of course, is that ad hoc is an English idiom, meaning what it means in English, not Latin; while the phrases I suggested are simply that -- Latin phrases -- that aren't idiomatic in English and have no specific English meanings outside their Latin original meanings, which very few English speakers will understand, especially in speech. Gratuitous use of unusual foreign phrases in English without any translation is not a mark of good style.
    – John Lawler
    Commented Mar 11, 2015 at 15:55

3 Answers 3

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You can use "universal, overall, versatile, general, multiuse, flexible".

Edit:

Ad-hoc / general-purpose: Able to accommodate multiple uses

You can use

universal : The definition of universal is relating to or affecting all.

ex 1: An example of universal used as an adjective is a universal curfew for a town which means that all members of that town must be home by a certain time.

ex 2: Adapted or adjustable to many sizes, uses, or devices: a universal remote control.

Versatile : The definition of versatile is having many uses.

Exclusively designed collections offer versatile, mix and match outfits, in a variety of color palettes.

overall : The definition of overall is including everything or in general.

ex 1: An example of overall used as an adjective is in the phrase "the overall taste of the pizza," which means the general taste of the pizza.

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systematic:

adjective

Done or acting according to a fixed plan or system; methodical:

ad hoc:

adjective& adverb

Created or done for a particular purpose as necessary:

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premediative:think out or plan , an action beforehand. or, rehearsed

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