Character
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈkʰæɹɨktɚ/, /ˈkʰɛɹɨktɚ/
Origin
From Middle English caracter, from Old French caractere, from Latin character, from Ancient Greek χαÏÎ±ÎºÏ„Î®Ï (kharaktÄ“r, "type, nature, character"), from χαÏάσσω (kharassÅ, "I engrave").
Full definition of character
Noun
character
(countable and uncountable; plural characters)- A being involved in the action of a story.
- 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 1, The stories did not seem to me to touch life. … They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.
- 2012, April 26, Tasha Robinson, Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits, But Pirates! comes with all the usual Aardman strengths intact, particularly the sense that its characters and creators alike are too good-hearted and sweet to nitpick. The ambition is all in the craft rather than in the storytelling, but it’s hard to say no to the proficiency of that craft, or the mild good cheer behind it.
- A distinguishing feature; characteristic.
- A complex of mental and ethical traits marking a person or a group.
- Motleya man of ... thoroughly subservient character
- 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 3, Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.
- A study of the suspect's character and his cast iron alibi ruled him out.
- Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; moral strength.He has a great deal of character."You may not like to eat liver," said Calvin's father, "but it builds character."
- A unique or extraordinary individual; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits, especially charisma.Julius Caesar is a great historical character.That bloke is such a character.
- A written or printed symbol, or letter.
- HolderIt 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.
- Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the particular form of letters used by a person or people.an inscription in the Runic character
- ShakespeareYou know the character to be your brother's?
- (computing) One of the basic elements making up a text file or string: a code representing a printing character or a control character.
- (informal) A person or individual, especially one who is unknown or raises suspicions.We saw a shady character slinking out of the office with some papers.
- (mathematics) A complex number representing an element of a finite Abelian group.
- Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty.in the miserable character of a slavein his character as a magistrate
- (dated) The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation.a man's character for truth and veracityHer actions give her a bad character.
- AddisonThis subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it.
- (dated) A reference given to a servant, attesting to his/her behaviour, competence, etc.
Usage notes
A comparison of character and reputation: 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.