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character

[kar-ik-ter]
See more synonyms for character on Thesaurus.com
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, especially 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. (especially 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.
    1. any symbol, as a number, letter, punctuation mark, etc., that represents data and that, when encoded, is usable by a machine.
    2. 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.
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adjective
  1. Theater.
    1. (of a part or role) representing a personality type, especially by emphasizing distinctive traits, as language, mannerisms, physical makeup, etc.
    2. (of an actor or actress) acting or specializing in such roles.
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verb (used with object) Archaic.
  1. to portray; describe.
  2. to engrave; inscribe.
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Idioms
  1. in character,
    1. in harmony with one's personal character or disposition: Such behavior is not in character for him.
    2. in accordance with the role or personality assumed in a performance: an actor in character.
  2. out of character,
    1. out of harmony with one's personal character or disposition: Her remarks were out of character.
    2. away from the role or personality assumed in a performance: The actor stepped out of character.
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Origin of character

1275–1325; < Latin < Greek charaktḗr graving tool, its mark, equivalent to charak- (base of charáttein to engrave) + -tēr agent suffix; replacing Middle English caractere < Middle French < Latin, as above
Related formschar·ac·ter·less, adjectiveun·char·ac·tered, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for character on Thesaurus.com
5. name, repute. 14. sign.

Synonym study

1. Character, individuality, personality refer to the sum of the characteristics possessed by a person. Character refers especially 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. See reputation.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for characters

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • But thou knowest their characters; and I will not therefore sully my paper with them.

    Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • Perhaps it will be answered, Are not the characters then taken from life?

  • They are driven by their lives and characters; I am driven by mine.'

    Little Dorrit

    Charles Dickens

  • Her first estimate of the characters of the two men seemed to be correct.

  • They're all the way round, and clear through, his characters are.

    The Mystery of Murray Davenport

    Robert Neilson Stephens

British Dictionary definitions for characters

character

noun
  1. the combination of traits and qualities distinguishing the individual nature of a person or thing
  2. one such distinguishing quality; characteristic
  3. moral force; integritya man of character
    1. reputation, esp a good reputation
    2. (as modifier)character assassination
  5. a summary or account of a person's qualities and achievements; testimonialmy last employer gave me a good character
  6. capacity, position, or statushe spoke in the character of a friend rather than a father
  7. a person represented in a play, film, story, etc; role
  8. an outstanding personone of the great characters of the century
  9. informal an odd, eccentric, or unusual personhe's quite a character
  10. an informal word for person a shady character
  11. a symbol used in a writing system, such as a letter of the alphabet
  12. Also called: sort printing any single letter, numeral, punctuation mark, or symbol cast as a type
  13. computing any letter, numeral, etc, which is a unit of information and can be represented uniquely by a binary pattern
  14. a style of writing or printing
  15. genetics any structure, function, attribute, etc, in an organism, which may or may not be determined by a gene or group of genes
  16. a short prose sketch of a distinctive type of person, usually representing a vice or virtue
  17. in character typical of the apparent character of a person or thing
  18. out of character not typical of the apparent character of a person or thing
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verb (tr)
  1. to write, print, inscribe, or engrave
  2. rare to portray or represent
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Derived Formscharacterful, adjectivecharacterless, adjective

Word Origin

C14: from Latin: distinguishing mark, from Greek kharaktēr engraver's tool, from kharassein to engrave, stamp
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 characters

character

n.

mid-14c., carecter, "symbol marked or branded on the body;" mid-15c., "symbol or drawing used in sorcery," from Old French caratere "feature, character" (13c., Modern French caractère), from Latin character, from Greek kharakter "engraved mark," also "symbol or imprint on the soul," also "instrument for marking," from kharassein "to engrave," from kharax "pointed stake," from PIE root *gher- "to scrape, scratch." Meaning extended in ancient times 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]

Meaning "sum of qualities that define a person" is from 1640s. Sense of "person in a play or novel" is first attested 1660s, in reference to the "defining qualities" he or she is given by the author. Meaning "a person" in the abstract is from 1749; especially "eccentric person" (1773). Colloquial sense of "chap, fellow" is from 1931. The Latin ch- spelling was restored from 1500s. Character actor attested from 1861; character assassination from 1888; character-building (n.) from 1886.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
characters in Medicine

character

(kăr′ək-tər)
n.
  1. A distinguishing feature or attribute, as of an individual, group, or category.
  2. A structure, function, or attribute determined by a gene or group of genes.
  3. In psychoanalysis, an individual's personality or temperament.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
characters in Science

character

[kăr′ək-tər]
  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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
characters in Culture

character

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

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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Idioms and Phrases with characters

character

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.