Word Direct Answers

What does "character" mean?

Character: 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.

Additional senses

  1. 2.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.
  2. 3.Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character.
  3. 4.Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character; his character saves him from suspicion.
  4. 5.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.
  5. 6.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.
  6. 7.A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant. [Colloq.]
  7. 8.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.
  8. 9.One of the persons of a drama or novel. Note: "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.
  9. 10.To engrave; to inscribe. [R.] These trees shall be my books. And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character. Shak.
  10. 11.To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize. [R.] Mitford.

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