character Latin · revision 7648

16 Oct 2026, 14:18 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Varro|origins=grc χαράσσω}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [kʰaˈrak.teːr]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kaˈrak.ter]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''charactēr''' ''m'' (genitive charactēris); third declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|grc|χαρακτήρ|tr=kharaktḗr|t=engraved mark, stamp]], from [[m|grc|χαράσσω|tr=kharássō|t=to engrave]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) Manuscripts most often write ⟨caracter⟩.^(TLL) Isidore defines it as the heated iron with which cattle are branded.^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation for the figurative sense is from Varro.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a branded or stamped letter or mark, as in Columella, and in Isidore the branding iron.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Figuratively, from Varro, it meant a character, stamp, the distinctive manner of a style.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a character, a spiritual mark.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for a brand, an inscription, a sign, ''charactēr crucis'' the sign of the cross.^(Niermeyer 1976) British Medieval Latin also used it for a magical character and a musical note.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''carattere'' and French ''caractère'', and [[en|character]] came in the mid-14th century, “a mark branded on the body”.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a distinctive stamp.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses it of a brand.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore uses it of a branding iron.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-14th century – English ''character'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A branded or stamped mark; a branding iron.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ # A distinctive stamp, [[m|en|character]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A spiritual mark.^(Stelten 1995)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An inscription; a sign, ''charactēr crucis'', the sign of the cross.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[en|character]]
+ * [[en|characteristic]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}