2. Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar form of letters used by a particular person or people; as,
an inscription in the Runic character.
You know the character to be your brother's?
Shak.
3. The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others; the
stamp impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is; nature; disposition.
The character or that dominion.
Milton.
Know well each Ancient's proper character;
His fable, subject, scope in every page;
Religion, Country,
genius of his Age.
Pope.
A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character.
Motley.
4. Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character.
5. Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character; his character
saves him from suspicion.
6. Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty; as, in the
miserable character of a slave; in his character as a magistrate; her character as a daughter.
7. The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation; as, a man's character for
truth and veracity; to give one a bad character.
This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it.
Addison.
8. A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant. [Colloq.]
9. A unique or extraordinary individuality; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits; a person
who illustrates certain phases of character; as, Randolph was a character; Cæsar is a great historical character.
10. One of the persons of a drama or novel.
"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." Abbott.
Character
(Char"ac*ter), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charactered ]
1. To engrave; to inscribe. [R.]
These trees shall be my books.
And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character.
Shak.
2. To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize. [R.] Mitford.
Characterism
(Char"ac*ter*ism) n. [Gr. a characterizing.] A distinction of character; a characteristic.
[Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Characteristic
(Char`ac*ter*is"tic) a. [Gr. : cf. F. charactéristique.] Pertaining to, or serving to constitute,
the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive.
Characteristic clearness of temper.
Macaulay.
