character

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. kind, class; nature, disposition, temperament, personality; part, role; sign, brand, stamp; figure, letter, hieroglyphic, ideograph, pictograph; informal, personage, eccentric, crank, original. See writing, speciality, intrinsic, identity, drama.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [The dominant quality]

Syn. temper, temperament, nature, sense, complex, mystique, mood, streak, attribute, trait, quality, singularity, badge, turn, tone, style, aspect, complexion, specialty, spirit, genius, humor, frame, grain, vein, atmosphere, ambience, climate, air, aura; see also attitude 2 , characteristic , temperament .

2. [The sum of a person's characteristics]

Syn. personality, disposition, nature, makeup, temperament, constitution, reputation, repute, individuality, estimation, record, caliber, standing, type, shape, quality, habit, appearance; see also kind 2 .

3. [A symbol, especially in writing]

Syn. letter, sign, figure, emblem; see letter 1 , mark , number 2 .

4. [*An odd or striking person]

Syn. personality, figure, personage, original, eccentric, oddity, crank*, nut*, case*, odd duck*, queer duck*, oddball*, weirdo*, crackpot*, flake*, kook*, freak*.

5. [Moral strength]

Syn. integrity, honor, probity, backbone; see determination 2 , honesty 1 .

6. [A role]

Syn. part, persona, member of the cast; see actor 1 , cast 2 , role .

• in character,

Syn. consistent, usual, predictable; see expected 2 .

• out of character,

Syn. inconsistent, unpredictable, unusual; see unexpected .

See Synonym Study at quality , temperament .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

1. personality nature, makeup, individuality, temperament, constitution, appearance, type, sort, kind, qualities. ''[W]

hat (a man) would do if he knew he would never be found out.''—Thomas Macaulay.

2. integrity reputation, standing, position, repute, distinction, honor, status. ''Moral order seen through the medium of an individual nature.''—Ralph Waldo Emerson. ''Mastery over your thoughts and actions.''—Mohandas Gandhi. ''What God and the angels know of us.''—Horace Mann.

3. odd person eccentric, oddball, nut, *odd duck, personality, *weirdo, *fruitcake, *original.

4. role impersonation, portrayal, part.

5. written symbol cipher, mark, figure, letter.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. The combination of emotional, intellectual, and moral qualities that distinguishes an individual: complexion, disposition, makeup, nature, personality. See BE. 2. Moral or ethical strength: fiber, honesty, integrity, principle. See STRONG. 3. A distinctive element: attribute, characteristic, feature, mark, peculiarity, property, quality, savor, trait. See BE. 4. A statement attesting to personal qualifications, character, and dependability: recommendation, reference, testimonial. See SUPPORT. 5. Public estimation of someone: name, report, reputation, repute. Informal: rep. See RESPECT. 6. An important, influential person: dignitary, eminence, leader, lion, nabob, notability, notable, personage. Informal: big-timer, heavyweight, somebody, someone, VIP. Slang: big shot, big wheel, bigwig, muckamuck. See IMPORTANT. 7. A person who is appealingly odd or curious: oddity, original. Informal: card, oddball. See USUAL. 8. A person portrayed in fiction or drama: persona, personage. See REAL. 9. A conventional mark used in a writing system: sign, symbol. See MARKS.