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character
11 dictionary results for: character
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
char·ac·ter       [kar-ik-ter] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.
2.one such feature or trait; characteristic.
3.moral or ethical quality: a man of fine, honorable character.
4.qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity: It takes character to face up to a bully.
5.reputation: a stain on one's character.
6.good repute.
7.an account of the qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.
8.a person, esp. with reference to behavior or personality: a suspicious character.
9.Informal. an odd, eccentric, or unusual person.
10.a person represented in a drama, story, etc.
11.a part or role, as in a play or film.
12.a symbol as used in a writing system, as a letter of the alphabet.
13.the symbols of a writing system collectively.
14.a significant visual mark or symbol.
15.status or capacity: the character of a justice of the peace.
16.a written statement from an employer concerning the qualities of a former employee.
17.Literature. (esp. in 17th- and 18th-century England) a formal character sketch or descriptive analysis of a particular human virtue or vice as represented in a person or type. Compare character sketch.
18.Genetics. any trait, function, structure, or substance of an organism resulting from the effect of one or more genes as modified by the environment.
19.Computers.
a.any symbol, as a number, letter, punctuation mark, etc., that represents data and that, when encoded, is usable by a machine.
b.one of a set of basic symbols that singly or in a series of two or more represents data and, when encoded, is usable in a computer.
20.a style of writing or printing.
21.Roman Catholic Theology. the ineffaceable imprint received on the soul through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and ordination.
22.(formerly) a cipher or cipher message.
–adjective
23.Theater.
a.(of a part or role) representing a personality type, esp. by emphasizing distinctive traits, as language, mannerisms, physical makeup, etc.
b.(of an actor or actress) acting or specializing in such roles.
–verb (used with object) Archaic.
24.to portray; describe.
25.to engrave; inscribe.
26.in character,
a.in harmony with one's personal character or disposition: Such behavior is not in character for him.
b.in accordance with the role or personality assumed in a performance: an actor in character.
27.out of character,
a.out of harmony with one's personal character or disposition: Her remarks were out of character.
b.away from the role or personality assumed in a performance: The actor stepped out of character.

[Origin: 1275–1325; < L < Gk charaktr graving tool, its mark, equiv. to charak- (base of charáttein to engrave) + -tér agent suffix; r. ME caractere < MF < L, as above]

char·ac·ter·less, adjective

1. Character, individuality, personality refer to the sum of the characteristics possessed by a person. Character refers esp. to moral qualities, ethical standards, principles, and the like: a man of sterling character. Individuality refers to the distinctive qualities that make one recognizable as a person differentiated from others: a woman of strong individuality. Personality refers particularly to the combination of outer and inner characteristics that determine the impression that a person makes upon others: a child of vivid or pleasing personality. 5. name, repute. See reputation. 14. sign.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
char·ac·ter       (kār'ək-tər)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. The combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another. See Synonyms at disposition.
  2. A distinguishing feature or attribute, as of an individual, group, or category. See Synonyms at quality.
  3. Genetics A structure, function, or attribute determined by a gene or group of genes.
  4. Moral or ethical strength.
  5. A description of a person's attributes, traits, or abilities.
  6. A formal written statement as to competency and dependability, given by an employer to a former employee; a recommendation.
  7. Public estimation of someone; reputation: personal attacks that damaged her character.
  8. Status or role; capacity: in his character as the father.
    1. A notable or well-known person; a personage.
    2. A person, especially one who is peculiar or eccentric: a shady character; catcalls from some character in the back row.
    3. A person portrayed in an artistic piece, such as a drama or novel.
    4. Characterization in fiction or drama: a script that is weak in plot but strong in character.
    5. One of a set of symbols, such as letters or numbers, that are arranged to express information.
    6. The numerical code representing such a character.
    1. A person portrayed in an artistic piece, such as a drama or novel.
    2. Characterization in fiction or drama: a script that is weak in plot but strong in character.
    3. One of a set of symbols, such as letters or numbers, that are arranged to express information.
    4. The numerical code representing such a character.
  9. A mark or symbol used in a writing system.
  10. Computer Science
    1. One of a set of symbols, such as letters or numbers, that are arranged to express information.
    2. The numerical code representing such a character.
  11. A style of printing or writing.
  12. A symbol used in secret writing; a cipher or code.

adj.  
  1. Of or relating to one's character.
    1. Specializing in the interpretation of often minor roles that emphasize fixed personality traits or specific physical characteristics: a character actor.
    2. Of or relating to the interpretation of such roles by an actor: the character part of the hero's devoted mother.
  2. Dedicated to the portrayal of a person with regard to distinguishing psychological or physical features: a character sketch.
  3. Law Of or relating to a person who gives testimony as to the moral and ethical reputation or behavior of one engaged in a lawsuit: a character witness.

tr.v.   charac·tered, charac·ter·ing, charac·ters Archaic
  1. To write, print, engrave, or inscribe.
  2. To portray or describe.


[Middle English carecter, distinctive mark, imprint on the soul, from Old French caractere, from Latin charactēr, from Greek kharaktēr, from kharassein, to inscribe, from kharax, kharak-, pointed stick.]

char'ac·ter·less adj.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
character 
c.1315, from O.Fr. caractere, from L. character, from Gk. kharakter "engraved mark," from kharassein "to engrave," from kharax "pointed stake." Meaning extended by metaphor to "a defining quality."
"You remember Eponina, who kept her husband alive in an underground cavern so devotedly and heroically? The force of character she showed in keeping up his spirits would have been used to hide a lover from her husband if they had been living quietly in Rome. Strong characters need strong nourishment." [Stendhal, "De l'Amour" 1822]
Sense of "person in a play or novel" is first attested 1664, in reference to the "defining qualities" he or she is given by the author. The Latin ch- spelling was restored 1500s. Characteristic is from 1664.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
character

noun
1. an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story); "she is the main character in the novel" [syn: fictional character
2. 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" [syn: quality
3. 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 
4. an actor's portrayal of someone in a play; "she played the part of Desdemona" 
5. 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" 
6. good repute; "he is a man of character" 
7. 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" 
8. a written symbol that is used to represent speech; "the Greek alphabet has 24 characters" 
9. (genetics) an attribute (structural or functional) that is determined by a gene or group of genes 

verb
1. engrave or inscribe characters on 

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
character       (kār'ək-tər)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Genetics A structure, function, or attribute determined by a gene or a group of genes.
  2. Computer Science A symbol, such as a letter, number, or punctuation mark, that occupies one byte of memory. See more at ASCII.

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
character

A person in a literary work. For example, Ebenezer Scrooge is a character in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.


American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

character char·ac·ter (kār'ək-tər)
n.
An attribute, trait, or distinct structural or functional feature. Also called characteristic.

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

character character
An atom in a character repertoire.
Compare with glyph.
(1998-10-18)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.]

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; C[ae]sar 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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Character

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.

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