character
UK: ˈkærəktə | US: ˈkærɪktər
n. the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual
n. a person in a novel, play, or movie
n. a printed or written letter or symbol
n. reputation or public perception
The word "character" traces back to Greek kharax (a pointed stake used for engraving), evolving into Latin character (a mark or symbol). The sense expanded from physical engravings to metaphorical "marks" of personality or identity, reflecting how actions (from agere) shape one's nature. By the 17th century, it gained theatrical usage for "roles" and later generalized to symbols in writing.
Her strong character helped her overcome adversity.
The main character in the novel is a detective.
The document was written in Chinese characters.
He defended his character against false accusations.
The software supports special mathematical characters.