Agency Dictionary
Character
nounPronunciation: /ˈkær.ək.tər/
In Portuguese: Caráter
Design
Philosophy & EthicsWhat does “Character” mean?
A metal block engraved with a letter used in letterpress printing, as well as the intrinsic moral quality and strength of a person.
Etymology
From Middle English caracter, from Old French caractere, from Latin character, from Greek kharakter, "engraving tool, engraved mark, distinctive stamp", from kharassein, "to scratch, to engrave". The first English senses were those of a mark or symbol, including a letter of the alphabet. The spelling with ch- was restored after the Latin form in the 16th century. From the idea of a distinctive mark came the sense of the qualities that distinguish a person, and later those of moral strength and of a person in a play or a novel.
Usage note
The word covers a written or printed sign, a person's moral nature and a figure in a story. Only the context tells which is meant.
Synonyms
- nature
- temperament
- integrity
- type
- letter
- glyph
Often confused with
- character (written sign)
- English uses character both for a written sign and for moral nature; Brazilian Portuguese tends to separate them, with caractere for the sign and caráter for the moral sense.
- personage
- A character in a story is personagem in Portuguese, not caráter; English personage means an important or notable person.
Word family
- characteristic
- characterize
- characterization
- characterless
- characterful
Usage examples
As you can see, the word character has a long-forgotten meaning that relates to communication and printing.
Concepts
- Brand ImpressionA brand impression is a perceptual, emotional, or physical encounter between an individual and an organization's communicative identity. In strategic marketing, it…
- Character Under PressureCharacter under pressure is an ethical and philosophical principle asserting that a person's authentic moral nature and values are revealed through difficult choices made…
- Movable TypeMovable type is a typographic system of printing that uses individual, reusable components carved or cast with characters to reproduce text on paper or parchment…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Antithesisnoun
- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- Buttonnoun
- A physical or graphical control element that triggers an immediate action or command when pressed or clicked. In software interfaces, buttons communicate system affordances through visual boundaries and labels.
- Discursiveadjective
- Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
- recipientnoun
- The person who receives something. In communication, the one to whom a message is addressed and who interprets it, as opposed to the sender who composes it.
- Superfluousadjective
- Exceeding what is sufficient, necessary, or useful.
- Treatisenoun
- A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
- Typographynoun
- The art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and visually appealing. It encompasses typeface selection, point size, line spacing, tracking, and spatial kerning.
- iconnoun
- A simplified image that represents a thing by resembling it. In semiotics, a sign that signifies through likeness; in digital interfaces, a small picture that stands for an object or a function.
- Maximnoun
- A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
- Screennoun
- A flat physical display surface on an electronic device that projects visual images, interfaces, and text to a viewer. It serves as the primary visual output medium for modern personal computers and mobile phones.
- wireframenoun
- A skeletal visual guide that outlines the basic structure, hierarchy, and functionality of a user interface.
- symbolismnoun
- The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.
Also from these editions: terms
- Accuracynoun
- The degree of precision, correctness, and exactitude with which a message or action reaches its intended mark.
- Byproductnoun
- A secondary, often unexpected result or incidental creation derived from an ongoing process or effort.
- CPMnoun
- An acronym for cost per mille, representing the advertising cost of delivering one thousand audience impressions.
- Frequencynoun
- The regular rate at which an event occurs or a message is transmitted over a designated period.
- Hookahnoun
- A traditional water pipe of Middle Eastern origin used for smoking specially prepared flavored tobacco.
- Matrixnoun
- An enclosing medium, grid, or systemic web of cultural and algorithmic conventions that shapes perceptions.
- Paddlenoun
- A short, light oar with a flat blade at one or both ends, held with both hands to propel and steer a small watercraft.
- Pamphletnoun
- A small, unbound printed booklet or leaflet intended for the mass dissemination of political, religious, or philosophical ideas.
- Singularitynoun
- The state, condition, or distinct quality of being singular, remarkable, and uniquely individual.
- Tsunaminoun
- A series of massive ocean waves caused by sudden displacement of water from undersea earthquakes, or metaphorically a sudden overwhelming influx of events.
- Undeniableadjective
- Manifestly true, valid, or high in quality to the point where it cannot be disputed, overlooked, or questioned.
Also from these editions: concepts
- Johannes GutenbergJohannes Gutenberg was a German craftsman and inventor of the fifteenth century, known for introducing printing with movable type to Europe. In the Agency editorial…
- Uncle BenUncle Ben is a character of Spider-Man, the uncle who raises Peter Parker. In the Agency editorial his line about great power and great responsibility appears twice…
- Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe was an American writer and poet of the nineteenth century, known for the poem The Raven and for his tales of mystery and the macabre. Issue.2 names him…
- Community MarketingCommunity marketing is a non-intrusive promotional strategy centered on engaging, serving, and cultivating relationships within dedicated groups sharing common interests…
- Cost Per MilleCost per mille (CPM) is a standard advertising pricing metric that denotes the financial cost an advertiser incurs for every one thousand impressions or views of an…
- Cultural DiffusionCultural diffusion is the geographical and social process by which cultural items, social rituals, technologies, ideas, or consumer habits spread from one society or…
- Metaphoric StorytellingMetaphoric storytelling is a narrative technique that translates complex, abstract, or intimidating concepts into accessible tales by embedding them within vivid symbolic…
- Organic ReachOrganic reach is the number of unique individuals who view or interact with unpaid content distributed through social networks, search engines, or digital forums. It…
- Social ProofSocial proof is a psychological and sociological phenomenon wherein individuals look to the behaviors, opinions, and affirmations of others to guide their own choices and…