CHARACTER


Meaning of CHARACTER in English

— characterless , adj.

/kar"ik teuhr/ , n.

1. the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.

2. one such feature or trait; characteristic.

3. moral or ethical quality: a man of fine, honorable character.

4. qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity: It takes character to face up to a bully.

5. reputation: a stain on one's character.

6. good repute.

7. an account of the qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.

8. a person, esp. with reference to behavior or personality: a suspicious character.

9. Informal. an odd, eccentric, or unusual person.

10. a person represented in a drama, story, etc.

11. a part or role, as in a play or film.

12. a symbol as used in a writing system, as a letter of the alphabet.

13. the symbols of a writing system collectively.

14. a significant visual mark or symbol.

15. status or capacity: the character of a justice of the peace.

16. a written statement from an employer concerning the qualities of a former employee.

17. Literature. (esp. in 17th- and 18th-century England) a formal character sketch or descriptive analysis of a particular human virtue or vice as represented in a person or type. Cf. character sketch .

18. Genetics. any trait, function, structure, or substance of an organism resulting from the effect of one or more genes as modified by the environment.

19. Computers.

a. any symbol, as a number, letter, punctuation mark, etc., that represents data and that, when encoded, is usable by a machine.

b. one of a set of basic symbols that singly or in a series of two or more represents data and, when encoded, is usable in a computer.

20. a style of writing or printing.

21. Rom. Cath. Theol. the ineffaceable imprint received on the soul through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and ordination.

22. (formerly) a cipher or cipher message.

23. in character ,

a. in harmony with one's personal character or disposition: Such behavior is not in character for him.

b. in accordance with the role or personality assumed in a performance: an actor in character.

24. out of character ,

a. out of harmony with one's personal character or disposition: Her remarks were out of character.

b. away from the role or personality assumed in a performance: The actor stepped out of character.

adj.

25. Theat.

a. (of a part or role) representing a personality type, esp. by emphasizing distinctive traits, as language, mannerisms, physical makeup, etc.

b. (of an actor or actress) acting or specializing in such roles.

v.t. Archaic.

26. to portray; describe.

27. to engrave; inscribe.

[ 1275-1325; charaktér graving tool, its mark, equiv. to charak- (base of charáttein to engrave) + -ter agent suffix; r. ME caractere ]

Syn. 1. CHARACTER, INDIVIDUALITY, PERSONALITY refer to the sum of the characteristics possessed by a person. CHARACTER refers esp. to moral qualities, ethical standards, principles, and the like: a man of sterling character. INDIVIDUALITY refers to the distinctive qualities that make one recognizable as a person differentiated from others: a woman of strong individuality. PERSONALITY refers particularly to the combination of outer and inner characteristics that determine the impression that a person makes upon others: a child of vivid or pleasing personality. 5. name, repute. See reputation. 14. sign.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .