characterization
[kar-ik-ter-uh-zey-shuh n, -truh-zey-]
- portrayal; description: the actor's characterization of a politician.
- the act of characterizing or describing the individual quality of a person or thing.
- the creation and convincing representation of fictitious characters, as in a literary work.
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Origin of characterization
1560–70; < Medieval Latin charactērizāt(us) marked (past participle of charactērizāre to characterize; see -ate1) + Latin -iōn- -ion
Synonyms
See more synonyms for characterization on Thesaurus.com1. representation, depiction, delineation.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for characterization
Contemporary Examples
Hitchcock has a few preliminary ideas for camera moves, and I make a few proposals about characterization and dialogue.
When asked if this characterization had any validity, Raimondo seemed taken aback—I am what?
Needless to say, Howie disagrees with that characterization.
My characterization of radio host Alex Jones (a frequent promoter of the Pauls) sparked outrage among his devotees.
Each campaign is convinced that its characterization of its opponent is accurate and will resonate with the electorate.
Historical Examples
His red slave's wig is thus made a feature in the characterization.
The Dramatic Values in PlautusWilton Wallace Blancke
The characterization of Othello in the rest of this scene is anything but happy.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
The very power of the characterization makes the traitress hateful.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
His puppets no longer interest him; he is careless of characterization.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
This characterization is perhaps extreme, but the danger to which it refers is all too frequent.
College TeachingPaul Klapper
characterization
characterisation
- description of character, traits, etc
- the act of characterizing
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for characterization
n.
1560s, "marking out of a precise form;" see characterize + -ation. Meaning "description of essential features" is from 1814.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper