Full Idea
Words become general by being made the signs of general Ideas; and Ideas become general by separating them from circumstances of Time and Place and other ideas; by this way of abstraction they are made capable of representing more individuals than one.
Gist of Idea
General words represent general ideas, which are abstractions from immediate circumstances
Source
John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 3.03.06)
Book Reference
Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.411
A Reaction
Fodor says this is they key move for empiricism. You can dispense with platonic forms and pure universals, and simple show general concepts as a way the mind has of dealing with particulars, which are built from experiences.