character
/ˈkæ.ɹɪk.tə/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: 5.11 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
5
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A unique or extraordinary individual; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits, especially charisma.
Countable
noun
Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the particular form of letters used by a person or people.
Countable; Dated
Example Sentences
- "[I]n a tragedy, or epick poem, the hero of the piece must be advanced foremost to the view of the reader or spectator; he must outshine the rest of all the characters; he must appear the prince of them, like the sun in the Copernican system, encompassed with the less noble planets …"
- "The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator."
- "But Pirates! comes with all the usual Aardman strengths intact, particularly the sense that its characters and creators alike are too good-hearted and sweet to nitpick. The ambition is all in the craft rather than in the storytelling, but it’s hard to say no to the proficiency of that craft, or the mild good cheer behind it."
- "A single locus governing the petal colour character was detected on the linkage group A2."
- "We were not able to ascertain the character of the relationship."
- "A study of the suspect's character and his cast iron alibi ruled him out."
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek χαράσσω (kharássō) Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Hellenic *-tḗr Ancient Greek -τήρ (-tḗr) Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr)der. Latin charactērder. Old French caracterebor. Middle English caracter English character From Middle English caracter, from Old French caractere, from Latin character, from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “type, nature, character”), from χαράσσω (kharássō, “to engrave”). Displaced native English thew from Old English þēaw (in the plural) and Old English hād (“person, character”). Doublet of charakter.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- British English: /ˈkæ.ɹɪk.tə/