character
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English caracter, from Old French caractere, from Latin character, from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktēr, “type, nature, character”), from χαράσσω (kharassō, “I engrave”).
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
character (plural characters)
- A being involved in the action of a story.
- 2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits :”, The Onion AV Club:
- 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.
- 2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits :”, The Onion AV Club:
- A distinguishing feature; characteristic; A complex of mental and ethical traits marking a person or a group.
- A study of the suspect's character and his cast iron alibi ruled him out.
- A moral strength.
- "You may not like to eat liver," said Calvin's father, "but it builds character."
- A very charismatic person.
- That bloke is such a character.
- A written or printed symbol, or letter
- (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.
Usage notes [edit]
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.
Derived terms [edit]
Terms derived from character
Look at pages starting with character.
Translations [edit]
being in a story
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distinguishing feature
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moral strength
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notable or eccentric person
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symbol for a sound or a word
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(computingcharacter) basic element in a text string
(informalcharacter) unknown or suspicious person
(mathematicscharacter) complex number
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Verb [edit]
character (third-person singular simple present characters, present participle charactering, simple past and past participle charactered)
See also [edit]
Statistics [edit]
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Most common English words before 1923: spoke · strange · force · #464: character · taking · information · seem
Latin [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From the Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktēr).
Noun [edit]
character (genitive characteris); m, third declension
- branding iron
- brand (made by a branding iron)
- characteristic, mark, character, style
Inflection [edit]
Descendants [edit]
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Computing
- English informal terms
- en:Mathematics
- English verbs
- English terms with obsolete senses
- Latin terms derived from Ancient Greek
- Latin nouns
