a. Obs. [f. as prec. + -AL.]
1. Of or pertaining to symbolic characters.
1634. Jackson, Creed, VII. xiii. (heading), Of the literall sense of Scripture, not assertive, but meerely charactericall.
2. Pertaining to magical symbols or charms.
1635. Swan, Spec. M., vii. § 3 (1643), 345. The observing of these signes with charactericall practises.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 504. Some Protestants practice this and characterical cures.
3. Characteristic, distinctive.
16[?]. E. Bolton, Hypercritica (1722), II. § i. Many other Qualities characterical, and proper to a most worthy Man.
1766. Porny, Heraldry, iii. § 4. Divers differences, or characterical marks, whereby Bearers of the same Coat-of-Arms are distinguished each from others.
