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English
Most common English words: spoke « strange « force « #464: character » taking » information » seemEtymology
From Old French caractère, from Latin character, from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktēr), “‘type, nature, character’”) from χαράσσω (kharassō), “‘I engrave’”).
Pronunciation
Noun
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Singular character |
Plural characters |
character (plural characters)
- A being involved in the action of a story.
- A written or printed symbol, or letter
- A distinguishing feature; characteristic; A complex of mental and ethical traits marking a person or a group.
- A moral strength.
- "You may not like to eat liver," said Calvin's father, "but it builds character."
- A person with many notable or eccentric features.
- (mathematics) A complex number representing an element of a finite Abelian group.
- (computing) One of the basic elements making up a text file or string: a code representing a printing character or a control character. Synonymous with byte in some environments.
Usage notes
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
Related terms
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Look at pages starting with character.
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See also
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San Francisco Chronicle (blog)
She's intelligent and charming, playing an intelligent, charming character . But hers is far from the best performance by an actress in 2009. ...
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