Meaning

noun a graphic or vivid verbal description

noun the act of describing distinctive characteristics or essential features

noun acting the part of a character on stage; dramatically representing the character by speech and action and gesture

originEtymology tree Ancient Greek χαράσσω (kharássō) Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Ancient Greek -τήρ (-tḗr) Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr) Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ίζω (-ízō) Ancient Greek χᾰρακτηρίζω (khăraktērízō)der. Medieval Latin charactērizōder. English characterize Proto-Indo-European *-tis…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0