character

char•ac•ter

[[t]ˈkær ɪk tər[/t]] n.

1) the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of a person or thing

2) one such feature or trait; characteristic

3) moral or ethical quality:

a woman of strong character[/ex]

4) qualities of honesty, fortitude, etc.; integrity

5) reputation:

a stain on one's character[/ex]

6) distinctive, often interesting qualities:

an old pub with a lot of character[/ex]

7) a person, esp. with reference to behavior or personality:

a suspicious character[/ex]

8) inf an odd, eccentric, or unusual person

9) lit. sbz a person represented in a drama, story, etc

10) lit. sbz a role, as in a play or film

11) status or capacity:

in his character of a justice of the peace[/ex]

12) ling. a symbol used in a system of writing:

Chinese characters[/ex]

13) a significant visual mark or symbol

14) an account of a person's qualities, abilities, etc.; reference

15) lit. (in 17th- and 18th-century literature) a sketch of a particular virtue or vice represented in a person or type

16) gen any trait, function, structure, or substance of an organism resulting from the effect of one or more genes

17) cmp any encoded unit of computer-usable data representing a symbol, as a letter, number, or puncuation mark, or a space, carriage return, etc

18) crp a cipher or cipher message

19) sbz (of a theatrical role) having or requiring eccentric, comedic, ethnic, or other distinctive traits

20) (of an actor) acting or specializing in such roles

21) to portray; describe

22) to engrave; inscribe

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- character

Etymology: 1275–1325; ME caractere < MF < Lcharactēr< Gk charaktḗr graving tool, its mark char′ac•ter•ful, adj. char′ac•ter•less, adj. syn: character, personality refer to the sum of the characteristics possessed by a person. character refers esp. to the moral qualities and ethical standards that make up the inner nature of a person: a man of sterling character. personality refers particularly to outer characteristics, as wittiness or charm, that determine the impression that a person makes upon others: a pleasing personality. See also reputation