Obs. Forms: 4–6 caracte, carecte, 4–7 carect, 5 karect, 6 carracte, karecte, carrect, 7 caract, carract. See also CHARACT. [ME. caracte, carect, OF. caracte, carecte fem., caract masc., correspond to L. types *characta, -um, app. a. Gr. χαρακτός, -ή, -όν ‘graven, impressed as a mark,’ taken absol. as = character. Caracta occurs in Pr. rendering characterem in the Vulg., Rev. xiii. 15: possibly the form arose only in Romanic from L. charácter.]
1. A mark, sign or CHARACTER.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 80. Þorw carectus þat cryst wrot.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. xiv. 11. If ony man toke the carecte of his [the beast’s] name.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. v. 166. Sum seable cros or mark or carect.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, II. v. 68. The greatest and least karectes or numbers.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, iii. 37. The Egiptians … described him [God] in their holy Carects as a Pilot alone gouerning a ship.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 56. In all his dressings, caracts, titles, formes.
1655. Trapp, Comm. 1 Cor. x. 21. An altar … which must have its prints and carects.
spec. 1530. Palsgr., 203/1. Carracte in pricke song, minime.
2. spec. A magical character or symbol; a charm.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 57. Whan that a man … With his carecte him [a serpent] wolde enchaunte. Ibid., III. 138. Of sorcerie the caractes.
1522. Skelton, Why nat to Court, 694. By nycromancy, By carectes and coniuracyon.
