CHARACTER

character

(noun) (genetics) an attribute (structural or functional) that is determined by a gene or group of genes

character, fiber, fibre

(noun) the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions; “education has for its object the formation of character”- Herbert Spencer

quality, character, lineament

(noun) a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something; “each town has a quality all its own”; “the radical character of our demands”

character, role, theatrical role, part, persona

(noun) an actor’s portrayal of someone in a play; “she played the part of Desdemona”

character, reference, character reference

(noun) a formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person’s qualifications and dependability; “requests for character references are all too often answered evasively”

character, graph, grapheme, graphic symbol

(noun) a written symbol that is used to represent speech; “the Greek alphabet has 24 characters”

character, eccentric, type, case

(noun) a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities); “a real character”; “a strange character”; “a friendly eccentric”; “the capable type”; “a mental case”

character

(noun) good repute; “he is a man of character”

character

(verb) engrave or inscribe characters on

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

character (countable and uncountable, plural characters)

(countable) A being involved in the action of a story.

(countable) A distinguishing feature; characteristic; trait; phene.

(uncountable, countable) A complex of traits marking a person, group, breed, or type.

(uncountable) Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; moral strength.

(countable) A unique or extraordinary individual; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits, especially charisma.

(countable) A written or printed symbol, or letter.

(countable, dated) Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the particular form of letters used by a person or people.

(countable, dated) A secret cipher; a way of writing in code.

(countable, computing) One of the basic elements making up a text file or string: a code representing a printing character or a control character.

(countable, informal) A person or individual, especially one who is unknown or raises suspicions.

(countable, mathematics) A complex number representing an element of a finite Abelian group.

(countable) Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty.

(countable, dated) The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation.

(countable, dated) A reference given to a servant, attesting to his/her behaviour, competence, etc.

(countable, obsolete) Personal appearance.

Usage notes

Character is sometimes used interchangeably with reputation, but the two words have different meanings; character describes the distinctive qualities of an individual or group while reputation describes the opinions held by others regarding an individual or group. Character is internal and authentic, while reputation is external and perceived.

Hyponyms

• Chinese character

• control character

• dominant character

• escape character

• cartoon character

• null character

• player character

• round character

• staple character

• stock character

• whitespace character

Verb

character (third-person singular simple present characters, present participle charactering, simple past and past participle charactered)

(obsolete) To write (using characters); to describe.

Source: Wiktionary

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Char"ac*ter, n. Etym: [L., an instrument for marking, character, Gr. caractère.]

1. A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol. 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.

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. You know the character to be your brother's Shak.

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. The character or that dominion. Milton. Know well each Ancient's proper character; His fable, subject, scope in every page; Religion, Country, genius of his Age. Pope. A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character. Motley.

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

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

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.

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. This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it. Addison.

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

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; Cæsar is a great historical character.

10. One of the persons of a drama or novel.

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.

Char"ac*ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charactered.]

1. To engrave; to inscribe. [R.] These trees shall be my books. And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character. Shak.

2. To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize. [R.] Mitford.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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