¦ noun
1. the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
strength and originality in a person's nature.
a person's good reputation.
2. the distinctive nature of something: gas lamps give the area its character.
3. a person in a novel, play, or film.
a part played by an actor.
4. informal an unusual or amusing person.
5. a printed or written letter or symbol.
Computing a symbol representing a letter or number.
6. chiefly Biology a characteristic, especially one that assists in the identification of a species.
¦ verb archaic inscribe or write (something).
?describe.
Derivatives
characterful adjective
characterfully adverb
characterless adjective
Origin
ME (in the sense 'distinctive mark', later 'feature or trait'): from OFr. caractere, via L. from Gk kharakter 'a stamping tool'.