Character

Character
Character Char"ac*ter, n. [L., an instrument for marking, character, Gr. ?, fr. ? to make sharp, to cut into furrows, to engrave: cf. F. caract[`e]re.] [1913 Webster] 1. A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol. [1913 Webster]

It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye. --Holder. [1913 Webster]

2. Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar form of letters used by a particular person or people; as, an inscription in the Runic character. [1913 Webster]

You know the character to be your brother's? --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others; the stamp impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is; nature; disposition. [1913 Webster]

The character or that dominion. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Know well each Ancient's proper character; His fable, subject, scope in every page; Religion, Country, genius of his Age. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character. --Motley. [1913 Webster]

4. Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character. [1913 Webster]

5. Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character; his character saves him from suspicion. [1913 Webster]

6. Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty; as, in the miserable character of a slave; in his character as a magistrate; her character as a daughter. [1913 Webster]

7. The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation; as, a man's character for truth and veracity; to give one a bad character. [1913 Webster]

This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

8. A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

9. A unique or extraordinary individuality; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits; a person who illustrates certain phases of character; as, Randolph was a character; C[ae]sar is a great historical character. [1913 Webster]

10. One of the persons of a drama or novel. [1913 Webster]

Note: ``It would be well if character and reputation were used distinctively. In truth, character is what a person is; reputation is what he is supposed to be. Character is in himself, reputation is in the minds of others. Character is injured by temptations, and by wrongdoing; reputation by slanders, and libels. Character endures throughout defamation in every form, but perishes when there is a voluntary transgression; reputation may last through numerous transgressions, but be destroyed by a single, and even an unfounded, accusation or aspersion.'' --Abbott. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Character — • A consideration of the term as it is used in psychology and ethics Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Character     Character     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Character — Character(s) may refer to: Contents 1 Art and entertainment 2 Mathematics, science and technology 3 Symbols 4 Other …   Wikipedia

  • Character — Студий …   Википедия

  • character — Fowler (1926) argued that character should not be used (1) as an alternative to forming abstract nouns in ness, ity, etc., e.g. • Every housing site has its own unique character Country Life, 1972 [instead of uniqueness or…is unique], and (2) in… …   Modern English usage

  • character — [kar′ək tər, kar′iktər] n. [ME carecter < OFr caractère < L character, an engraving instrument < Gr charaktēr < charassein, to engrave < charax, pointed stake] 1. a distinctive mark 2. a) any letter, figure, or symbol used in… …   English World dictionary

  • character — [n1] individuality appearance, aspect, attribute, badge, bent, caliber, cast, complex, complexion, constitution, crasis, disposition, emotions, estimation, ethos, frame, frame of mind, genius, grain, habit, humor, kind, makeup, mettle, mood,… …   New thesaurus

  • character — I (an individual) noun being, body, figure, human, human being, man, mortal, party, person, personage, personality, self determined being, somebody, someone II (personal quality) noun animus, aspects, attribute, bent, characteristic mood,… …   Law dictionary

  • Character — (engl.: „Charakter“ oder „Schriftzeichen“) steht für: Char (Datentyp), einen Datentyp in der Informationstechnologie Character (Album), ein Album der Metalband Dark Tranquillity Character indelebilis, untilgbares Merkmal, Begriff aus der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • character — (n.) early 14c., from O.Fr. caractere (13c., Mod.Fr. caractère), from L. character, from Gk. kharakter engraved mark, also symbol or imprint on the soul, from kharassein to engrave, from kharax pointed stake, from PIE root *gher to scrape,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • character — n 1 Character, symbol, sign, mark are comparable in the specific sense of an arbitrary or conventional device that is used in writing and in printing, but is neither a word nor a phrase nor a picture. Character suggests the distinctive form or… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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