• n. 性格，品質；特性；角色；[計] 字符
• vt. 印，刻；使具有特征
• n. (Character)人名；(英)克拉克特

來自PIE*gher, 刻，寫，刮, 進一步來自PIE*sker, 切，砍，詞源同carve, graph, scribe. 即刻進骨子里的特征。

character

character: [14] The ultimate source of character is Greek kharaktér, a derivative of the verb kharássein ‘sharpen, engrave, cut’, which in turn came from kharax ‘pointed stake’. Kharaktér meant ‘engraved mark’, and hence was applied metaphorically to the particular impress or stamp which marked one thing as different from another – its ‘character’. The word came into English via Latin charactēr and Old French caractere. Characteristic followed in the 17th century.
=> gash

character (n.)

mid-14c., carecter, "symbol marked or branded on the body;" mid-15c., "symbol or drawing used in sorcery," from Old French caratere "feature, character" (13c., Modern French caractère), from Latin character, from Greek kharakter "engraved mark," also "symbol or imprint on the soul," also "instrument for marking," from kharassein "to engrave," from kharax "pointed stake," from PIE root *gher- (4) "to scrape, scratch." Meaning extended in ancient times by metaphor to "a defining quality."

You remember Eponina, who kept her husband alive in an underground cavern so devotedly and heroically? The force of character she showed in keeping up his spirits would have been used to hide a lover from her husband if they had been living quietly in Rome. Strong characters need strong nourishment. [Stendhal "de l'Amour," 1822]

Meaning "sum of qualities that define a person" is from 1640s. Sense of "person in a play or novel" is first attested 1660s, in reference to the "defining qualities" he or she is given by the author. Meaning "a person" in the abstract is from 1749; especially "eccentric person" (1773). Colloquial sense of "chap, fellow" is from 1931. The Latin ch- spelling was restored from 1500s. Character actor attested from 1861; character assassination from 1888; character-building (n.) from 1886.

1. I didn't know Ron had that much strength of character.

我當時不知道羅恩有那么堅強的個性。

來自柯林斯例句

2. Michael Fish is my favourite. He's a hoot, a real character.

我最喜歡邁克爾·菲什。他滑稽逗趣，是個實實在在的人物。

來自柯林斯例句

3. He is the least appealing character, to me at any rate.

他是其中最沒有吸引力的角色，至少對我來說是這樣。

來自柯林斯例句

4. The town itself was full of life and character.

這個城市本身充滿活力，個性十足。

來自柯林斯例句

5. Somewhere deep beneath the surface lay a caring character.

在內心深處的某個角落里埋藏著一顆愛心。

來自柯林斯例句