Forms: 4–7 caracter, 6 caractere, carracter, -actre, 7 -ecter; 6 charecter, 7 charracter, characture, (charractker), 6– character. [ME. caracter(e, a. F. caractere, ad. L. charactēr, a. Gr. χαρακτήρ instrument for marking or graving, impress, stamp, distinctive mark, distinctive nature, f. χαράττ-ειν to make sharp, cut furrows in, engrave; or perhaps a refashioning of the earlier F. caracte after this. In Eng. it was further assimilated in 16th c. by (fictitious) spelling with ch-. (Wyclif used both caracte and caracter; he may have taken the latter directly from Latin, as Littré cites F. caractère only from 15th c. In 16–17th c. often chara·cter.]
I. Literal senses.
1. A distinctive mark impressed, engraved, or otherwise formed; a brand, stamp.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 44. Caracter thet is prente y-cliped, Nys non of eliinge.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. xiii. 16. To haue a caracter … in her forhedis.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 264. Amongst the ancients, there was a custom to make the character of a horse in the forehead of a bondslave.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 220. What Characters are in your seale, will soon be seen by your wax.
1658. Evelyn, Fr. Gard. (1675), 150. Melons … full of embroidery and characters.
1762. Churchill, Ghost, IV. Wks. 1774, II. 135. On which, in Characters of fire, Shapes Antic, horrible and dire, Inwoven flam’d.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann., II. IV. iv. 280. Graven characters on the walls.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 58.
b. fig. with distinct reference to the literal sense.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., I. ii. Thou … by characters graven on thy brows … Deserv’st to have the leading of an host.
a. 1643. W. Cartwright, Lady-Errant, IV. i. Woman’s the Gem of Heaven, in which Nature Hath carv’d the universe in less Characters.
a. 1771. Gray, Wks. (1807), I. 26. The characters of hell to trace.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 92. All are stamped with the character of sublimity.
2. A distinctive significant mark of any kind; a graphic sign or symbol.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 3. A Cliefe is a charecter set on a rule at the beginning of a verse.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., I. viii. 26. Pauses or Rests are silent Characters.
1801. Hutton, Course Math. (1806), I. 8. Various characters or marks used in Arithmetic.
3. esp. A graphic symbol standing for a sound, syllable, or notion, used in writing or in printing; one of the simple elements of a written language; e.g., a letter of the alphabet.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, vi. 25. The Fenyces were the fyrst inuentours of caracteris dyfferencing that one fro that other, of whiche were fourmed lettres for to write.
1530. Palsgr., 11. If i and u be vowelles, they shalbe written with these caracters y and v.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 13. With whiche Carractris ys Geffry Chausyer written.
1611. Bible, Pref., 5. Set forth by Potken in Syrian characters.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., Ep. Ded. 4. God hath writ his Commandements in so large characters.
1712. F. T., Meth. Short-Hand, 36. Several of the Characters may signifie whole words.
1829. Dickens, in Forster, Life (1871), I. 70. When I had … mastered the alphabet, there appeared a procession of new horrors, called arbitrary characters.
1837. Penny Cycl., VII. 32. The Chinese characters or written words are symbols of ideas.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann., II. IV. iv. 280. The experienced eye will discern Runic characters.
† b. spec. in pl. Shorthand. Obs.
1641. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 478. Whom his Majesty had observed to take his Speech in Characters.
1680. Baxter, Answ. Stillingfl., xxxiii. 48. Short writing called Characters though expeditious, is hard to be read by others.
1723. Jon. Edwards, Wks. (1834), I. lxxvi/1 [Mem.] When I am unfit for other business to perfect myself in writing characters.
4. collect. a. gen. Writing, printing.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., lix. Since minde at first in carrecter was done. Ibid. (1607), Timon, V. iii. 6. What’s on this Tomb, I cannot read: the Charracter Ile take with wax.
a. 1626. Fletcher, Law of Com., I. ii. 52. Without the help of art or character.
b. The series of alphabetic signs, or elementary symbols, peculiar to any language; a set of letters.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., 29. The Saxons Character is the same with the Irish.
1655. Marq. Worcester, Cent. Inv., xxxii. An universal Character … easie to be written, yet intelligible in any Language.
1685. Stillingfl., Orig. Brit., i. 11. That Inscription … was by the Character not of above 300 years Antiquity.
1882. Daily News, 11 Oct., 5/4. Prince Bismarck says that it takes him eighty minutes to read in Roman type what he can read in an hour in German character.
c. The style of writing peculiar to any individual; handwriting.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. ii. 208. Heere is the hand and Seale of the Duke: you know the Charracter I doubt not.
1638. Wentworth, Lett., in Carte, Coll. (1735), 26. I write in much pain … be your Majestie therefore pleased to pardon … the badness of the character.
1704. J. Trapp, Abra-Mulé, III. i. 1036. Some of your Friends may by the Character Discover him who sent it.
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, II. 252. Written in a rough unsteady character.
d. Kind or style of type or printed letter.
1641. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 29. Elzevir’s printing house … renowned for the politeness of the character and editions of what he has published through Europe.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, II. iv. Imitation of printed Roman character.
5. A cabbalistic or magical sign or emblem; the astrological symbol of a planet, etc.; = CHARACT 2.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust., v. 168. A book where I might see all characters and planets of the heavens.
1608. Bp. Hall, Char. Vertues & Vices, II. 90. He weares Paracelsian Characters for the tooth-ache.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 384. By what the stars Voluminous, or single characters In their conjunction met, give me to spell.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, IV. xv. The characters That tell beneath what aspect they were set.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, VI. xvii. On cross, and character, and talisman.
† 6. gen. A symbol, emblem, figure; an expression or direct representation. Obs.
1606. Bryskett, Civ. Life, 175. Al they, that are signed with the character of Christ in baptisme, may stedfastly beleeue that they are predestinated and chosen to saluation.
c. 1630. Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. (1711), 4. Enamell’d bank, whose shining gravel bears These sad characters of my miseries!
1670. Cotton, Espernon, I. IV. 186. No truths, but such as are couch’d in the worst Characters.
1702. trans. Le Clerc’s Prim. Fathers, 117. That the Son is … the Brightness of his Glory and Character of his Power.
7. A cipher for secret correspondence.
[1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., I. i. 28. There is a kinde of Character in thy life, That to th’obseruer, doth thy history Fully vnfold.]
1659–60. Pepys, Diary, 18 Jan. I … interpreted my Lord’s letter by his character. Ibid. (1664), 15 July. He hath given my Lord a character, and will oblige my Lord to correspond with him.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), IV. 296. That [letter] which I copied myself in character last Sunday.
II. Figurative senses.
8. A distinctive mark, evidence or token; a feature, trait, characteristic. arch. in gen. use.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men, I. iii. (W. de W., 1506), 39. A spyrytuell token yt these theologyens call caractere, that maye neuer be defaced.
1597. Bacon, Coulers Good & Evill, ix. 151. Felicitie seemeth to bee a character of the fauour … of the diuine powers.
1654. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 65. It were imprudent, and a character of much ignorance, to inquire [etc.].
1774. Burke, Amer. Tax., Wks. I. 174. Tell me, what one character of liberty the Americans have.
1886. Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll, 126. Complete moral insensibility and insensate readiness to evil, which were the leading characters of E. H.
b. now esp. in Natural History. One of the distinguishing features of a species or genus.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Character of a Plant. See Genus, Characteristic, &c.
1776. Withering, Bot. Arrangem. (1796), 127. The most striking character is the 2 upright petals at the top.
1875. J. W. Dawson, Dawn of Life, ii. 34. Dr. Hunt has discussed very fully their chemical characters.
1878. P. L. Sclater, in 19th C., Dec., 1037. These attributes of structure, size, shape, and colour are what are called its ‘specific characters.’
9. The aggregate of the distinctive features of any thing; essential peculiarity; nature, style; sort, kind, description.
1659. Pearson, Creed (1839), 372. The character of the day on which our Saviour died is undeniable.
1790. Burke, Corr. (1844), III. 173. Your paper has much more the character of a piece in an adverse controversy.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 234. Natural stupidity is by no means the character of Mahomet’s Book.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 90. He now tried to give to the war the character of a crusade.
1866. Crump, Banking, ii. 59. The amount and character of the deposits of English banks.
† 10. The face or features as betokening moral qualities; personal appearance. Obs.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. ii. 51. I will beleeue thou hast a minde that suites With this thy faire and outward charracter. Ibid. (1607), Cor., V. iv. 28. I paint him in the Character.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), I. 68. She was a widow, and wore a character of distress.
11. The sum of the moral and mental qualities that distinguish an individual or a race, viewed as a homogeneous whole; the individuality impressed by nature and habit on man or nation; mental or moral constitution.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. I. 36. The Nature, and Character, and Fortune of the Duke.
1660. C. Lyttelton, Lett., in Hatton Corr. (1878), 20. I heare he writt the King’s charractker.
1705. Addison, Italy, 9. The Genoese are esteem’d extreamly Cunning, Industrious, and enur’d to Hardship…; which was likewise the Character of the old Ligurians.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 158. There is greater variety of parts in what we call a character, than there are features in a face.
1839. Keightley, Hist. Eng., II. 74. Thorough selfishness formed the basis of Henry’s character.
1875. Manning, Mission H. Ghost, ii. 52. The character is that intellectual and moral texture into which all our life long we have been weaving up the inward life that is in us.
12. Moral qualities strongly developed or strikingly displayed; distinct or distinguished character; character worth speaking of.
1735. Pope, Ep. Lady, 2. Most Women have no Characters at all.
1737. Whiston, Josephus’ Wars, IV. xi. § 4. As the day came on, many men of character came over.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. viii. 660. Too void of character, to write any thing of himself.
1859. J. S. Mill, Liberty, 108. A person whose desires and impulses are his own—are the expression of his own nature, as it has been developed and modified by his own culture—is said to have a character. One whose desires and impulses are not his own, has no character, no more than a steam-engine has a character.
b. transf.
1781. J. Moore, View Soc. It. (1790), I. xlv. 500. What is usually called Character in a face, is probably excess in some of its parts.
1888. W. P. Frith, Autobiog., II. 213. It is an excellent picture and from its strong character must be a good likeness.
13. The estimate formed of a person’s qualities; reputation: when used without qualifying epithet implying ‘favorable estimate, good repute.’
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 478, ¶ 5. Till he be prov’d by Time, and established in a Character.
1786. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), I. 566. These debts must be paid, or our character stained with infamy.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xv. 164. It pleased me to find that I had earned character with these people.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. vii. 60. An act … strangely out of keeping with his character for sanctity and gentleness.
b. transf. of things.
1845. McCulloch, Taxation, II. vi. (1852), 275. Shops of established character and respectability.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 40. Such an impression … as shall establish its character as current money of certain value.
† c. By character: by repute or report. In (great) character: in (good) repute. Obs.
1789. Saunders, in Phil. Trans., LXXIX. 82. A medicine formerly in great character.
1791. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 76. A nobleman scarce known to him, but by public character.
c. 1815. Jane Austen, Persuas. (1833), I. x. 294. I had known you by character long before.
14. A description, delineation, or detailed report of a person’s qualities.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. iii. 18. I heard her setting him forth one day, and giving this character of him.
a. 1714. Burnet, Own Time (1823), I. 465. I name Sir George Saville last because he deserves a more copious character.
1868. E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. xx. 455. He went on to amuse himself by drawing the characters of the conspirators.
† b. transf. of things. Obs.
1651. Evelyn (title), A Character of England.
1705. Addison, Italy, 217 (J.). This Subterraneous Passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a Character of it.
1721. Perry, Daggenh. Breach, 13. Believing by the Character which he had given me, that the Work was brought near to the being finish’d.
c. esp. A formal testimony given by an employer as to the qualities and habits of one that has been in his employ.
1693. Col. Rec. Penn., I. 399. I have had a good character of you, Sir.
1785. R. Cumberland, in Observer, No. xcvi. ¶ 2 (1798), IV. 102. I … took the rascal upon his word without a character.
1859. J. Lang, Wand. India, 120. Then came … the coachman, the grooms, the sweeper. For each and all of these I had to write characters.
1878. Lady Lytton, Shells fr. Sands of T., 162. She got a place with a false character.
15. Recognized official rank; status; position assumed or occupied. Now influenced by sense 17.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. iii. 10. The Spaniard, when he petitions to his King, gives him no other Character but Sir.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VI. (1703), II. 151. Mr. Hyde was made Chancellor of the Exchequer; who, till that time … was not under any Character in the Court.
a. 1714. Burnet, Own Time, II. 39. He had the appointments of an ambassador, but would not take the character.
1786. Burke, Art. W. Hastings, Wks. 1842, II. 160. The East India company, not only in their political character, as a great sovereign power in India, but in their commercial character.
1852. H. Rogers, Ess., I. vii. 335. He never really appeared but in one character, that of a philosopher.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 189. From that day the legal recognition of his royal character begins.
16. A person regarded in the abstract as the possessor of specified qualities; a personage, a personality.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. i. Eminent characters have … played the fool.
1791. J. Hampson, Mem. J. Wesley, II. 29. A magistrate, who acquits himself with ability and impartiality, is a respectable and useful character.
1854. Landor, Lett. American, 52. He [Cobbett] had more sagacity and foresight than any other public character of his time.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. ii. 53. Ælfred is the most perfect character in history.
17. A personality invested with distinctive attributes and qualities, by a novelist or dramatist; also, the personality or ‘part’ assumed by an actor on the stage.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XVIII. i. Whatever characters any … have for the jest-sake personated … are now thrown off.
1756–82. J. Warton, Ess. Pope, I. ii. 57. The comic character of Sir Trusty.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 5. In the Philebus the character of Socrates has disappeared.
1882. A. W. Ward, Dickens, vii. 215. To no other author were his own characters ever more real.
b. In (or out of) character: in (or at variance with) the part assumed; hence gen. in (or out of) harmony, appropriate, fitting.
1745. J. Mason, Self-Knowl., I. iv. (1853), 41. It is always Self-ignorance that leads a man to act out of character.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scand., III. i. That would be in character, I should think.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. App. 715. The matter of the answer is clearly in character.
18. colloq. An odd, extraordinary or eccentric person.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., II. i. A very impudent fellow this! but he’s a character, and I’ll humour him.
1832. G. Downes, Lett. Cont. Countries, I. 473. ‘Ahi lassa,’ added with a sigh the old man, who was a bit of a character.
1839. Ld. Brougham, Statesm. Geo. III. (ed. 2), 270. He was … a character as it is called: By this is meant a mind cast in a peculiar mould.
19. attrib. or in comb., as character-drawing, -monger, etc.; also character-actor (see quot.)
1843. Macaulay, Mad. D’Arblay, Ess. (1854), 710/2. His dear little Burney, his little character-monger.
1866. Reader, 26 May, 510. In comedy and character parts, such as Justice Shallow.
1882. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 Aug., 5/1. His [D. C. Murray’s] powers of plot-weaving or character-drawing.
1883. Stage, 9 Nov. By a ‘character actor’ is understood one who pourtrays individualities and eccentricities, as opposed to the legitimate actor who … endeavours to create the rôle as limned by the author.
