Definition of character

What does the word character mean?

• part of speech: noun, transitive verb

  Distinctive mark; (pl.) inscribed letters or figures; national writing-symbols (in the German c.); person\'s handwriting; characteristic (esp. of species &c. in Nat. Hist.); collective peculiarities, sort, style; person\'s or race\'s idiosyncrasy, mental or moral nature; moral strength, backbone; reputation, good reputation; description of person\'s qualities; testimonial; status; known person (usu. public c.); imaginary person created by novelist or dramatist; actor\'s or hypocrite\'s part (in, out of, c., appropriate to these or not, also more widely of actions that are in accord or not with person\'s c.); eccentric person (c. actor, who devotes himself to eccentricities). (Vb, poet. & archaic) inscribe; describe. [French]