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.


  By PanEris using Melati.

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