Part 173

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; CŠsar is a great historical character.

10. One of the persons of a drama or novel.

&fist; "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.

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.

Char"ac*ter*ism (?), n. [Gr. &?; a characterizing.] A distinction of character; a characteristic. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Char`ac*ter*is"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. charactÚristique.] 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.

Char`ac*ter*is"tic, n. 1. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized. Pope.

The characteristics of a true critic. Johnson.

2. (Math.) The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a logarithm.

Char`ac*ter*is"tic*al (?), a. Characteristic.

Char`ac*ter*is"tic*al*ly, adv. In a characteristic manner; in a way that characterizes.

Char`ac*ter*i*za"tion (?), n. The act or process of characterizing.

Char"ac*ter*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Characterized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Characterizing.] [LL. characterizare, Gr. &?;: cf. F. charactÚriser.] 1. To make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or traits; to make with distinctive features.

European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are Characterized. Arbuthnot.

2. To engrave or imprint. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

3. To indicate the character of; to describe.

Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to characterize King William. Johnson.