- a distinctive mark
- any letter, figure, or symbol used in writing and printing
- the letters of an alphabet, collectively
- style of printing or handwriting
- a mystic symbol or magical emblem
- a code or cipher
- a distinctive trait, quality, or attribute; characteristic
- essential quality; nature; kind or sort
- the pattern of behavior or personality found in an individual or group; moral constitution
- moral strength; self-discipline, fortitude, etc.
- reputation
- good reputation: left without a shred of character
- a statement about the behavior, qualities, etc. of a person, esp. as given by a former employer; reference
- status; position
- a personage: great characters in history
- a person in a play, story, novel, etc.
- a role as portrayed by an actor or actress
- Informal an odd, eccentric, or noteworthy person
- Genetics any attribute, as color, shape, etc., caused in an individual by the action of one or more genes
Origin of character
Middle English carecter from Old French caractère from Classical Latin character, an engraving instrument from Classical Greek charakt?r from charassein, to engrave from charax, pointed stake- to write, print, or inscribe
- to characterize
- Archaic to represent; portray
character Idioms
in (or out of) character
consistent with (or inconsistent with) the role or general character
