character

Where does the word "character" come from? It comes from Greek kharakter, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Character’s story begins in Greek: kharakter meant “an engraved or stamped mark.” Literally "an engraved mark", from a tool used for stamping or engraving. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as character. Adopted for a distinguishing mark or feature. From there it passed into Old French as caractere by medieval. Broadened to mean a person's distinctive nature. It reached English by medieval as character. Settled as the English word for personality and symbols. Today, character means the mental and moral qualities of a person, or a figure in a story.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient kharakter "an engraved or stamped mark", literally "an engraved mark", from a tool used for stamping or engraving.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient character "a distinguishing feature", adopted for a distinguishing mark or feature.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval caractere "personal nature, a symbol", broadened to mean a person's distinctive nature.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval character "a person's nature, or a symbol", settled as the English word for personality and symbols.