‖n. [ NL., of uncertain origin. ] (Bot.) A genus of flowerless plants, having articulated stems and whorled branches. They flourish in wet places. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any freshwater fish of the family Characinidae; -- also called characin.
Syn. -- characin, characin fish. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a natural family of tropical freshwater fishes of Africa and southern and central America.
Syn. -- family Characidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any freshwater fish of the family Characinidae; -- also called characid.
Syn. -- characin fish, characid. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. former name of the family Characidae.
Syn. -- family Characinidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A distinctive mark; a character; a letter or sign. [ Obs. ] See Character. [ 1913 Webster ]

In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., an instrument for marking, character, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to make sharp, to cut into furrows, to engrave: cf. F. caractère. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

You know the character to be your brother's? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The character or that dominion. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Know well each Ancient's proper character;
His fable, subject, scope in every page;
Religion, Country, genius of his Age. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character; his character saves him from suspicion. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. One of the persons of a drama or novel. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Charactered ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To engrave; to inscribe. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

These trees shall be my books.
And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize. [ R. ] Mitford. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; a characterizing. ] A distinction of character; a characteristic. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;: 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Characteristic clearness of temper. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]