Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHAR'AC-TER, n. [L. character; Fr. caractère; Sp. caracter; It. carattere; Gr. χαρακτηρ, from the verb χαρασσω, χαραττω, χαραξω, to scrape, cut, engrave.]

1. A mark made by cutting or engraving, as on stone, metal or other hard material; hence, a mark or figure made with a pen or style, on paper, or other material used to contain writing; a letter or figure used to form words, and communicate ideas. Characters are: literal, as the letters of an alphabet; numeral, as the arithmetical figures; emblematical or symbolical, which express things or ideas; and abbreviations, as C. for centum, a hundred; lb. for libra, a pound; A. D. Anno Domini; &c.
2. A mark or figure made by stamping or impression, as on coins.
3. The manner of writing; the peculiar form of letters used by a particular person. You know the character to be your brother's. – Shak.
4. The peculiar qualities, impressed by nature or habit on a person, which distinguish him from others; these constitute real character, and the qualities which he is supposed to possess, constitute his estimated character, or reputation. Hence we say, a character is not formed, when the person has not acquired stable and distinctive qualities.
5. An account, description or representation of any thing, exhibiting its qualities and the circumstances attending it; as, to give a bad character to a town, or to a road.
6. A person; as, the assembly consisted of various characters, eminent characters, and low characters; all the characters in the play appeared to advantage. The friendship of distinguished characters. – Roscoe.
7. By way of eminence, distinguished or good qualities; those which are esteemed and respected; and those which are ascribed to a person in common estimation. We inquire whether a stranger is a man of character.
8. Adventurous qualities impressed by office, or station; the qualities that, in public estimation, belong to a person in a particular station, as when we ask how a magistrate or commander supports his character.
9. In natural history, the peculiar discriminating qualities or properties of animals, plants and minerals. These properties, when employed for the purpose of discriminating minerals, are called characters. – Cleaveland.
10. Distinction of quality of any kind strongly marked; as a man is said to have no character, or a great deal of character.