CHARACTER, n.

1. A mark made by cutting or engraving, as on stone, metal or other hard material; hence, a mark or figure made with a pen or style, on paper, or other material used to contain writing; a letter or figure used to form words, and communicate ideas. Characters are: literal, as the letters of an alphabet; numeral, as the arithmetical figures; emblematical or symbolical, which express things or ideas; and abbreviations, as C. for centum, a hundred; lb. for libra, a pound; A. D. Anno Domini; &c.
2. A mark or figure made by stamping or impression, as on coins.
3. The manner of writing; the peculiar form of letters used by a particular person. You know the character to be your brother's. – Shak.
4. The peculiar qualities, impressed by nature or habit on a person, which distinguish him from others; these constitute real character, and the qualities which he is supposed to possess, constitute his estimated character, or reputation. Hence we say, a character is not formed, when the person has not acquired stable and distinctive qualities.
5. An account, description or representation of any thing, exhibiting its qualities and the circumstances attending it; as, to give a bad character to a town, or to a road.
6. A person; as, the assembly consisted of various characters, eminent characters, and low characters; all the characters in the play appeared to advantage. The friendship of distinguished characters. – Roscoe.
7. By way of eminence, distinguished or good qualities; those which are esteemed and respected; and those which are ascribed to a person in common estimation. We inquire whether a stranger is a man of character.
8. Adventurous qualities impressed by office, or station; the qualities that, in public estimation, belong to a person in a particular station, as when we ask how a magistrate or commander supports his character.
9. In natural history, the peculiar discriminating qualities or properties of animals, plants and minerals. These properties, when employed for the purpose of discriminating minerals, are called characters. – Cleaveland.
10. Distinction of quality of any kind strongly marked; as a man is said to have no character, or a great deal of character.

1. To engrave; to inscribe. – Milton. Shak.
2. To describe; to distinguish by particular marks or traits. – Mitford.

1. A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol.
   
   

   It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye.
   Holder.

2. To engrave] to inscribe.
   
   
   [R.]

   These trees shall be my books.
   And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character.
   Shak.

3. 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.

4. To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize.
   
   
   [R.] Mitford.

5. 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.

6. Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character.
7. Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character; his character saves him from suspicion.
8. 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.
9. 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.

10. A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant.
    
    
    [Colloq.]
11. 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.
12. 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.