chăracter, ēris, m., = χαρακτήρ.
I An instrument for branding or marking , etc.: character est ferrum coloratum, quo notae pecudibus inuruntur, χαρακτήρ autem Graece, Latine forma dicitur, Isid. Orig. 20, 16, 7.—
II Usu., the mark or sign burned or imprinted.
A Prop. (esp. upon animals): quadrupedia charactere signare, Col. 11, 2, 14; Pall. Jan. 16: characterem infigere alicui, Aug. Contr. Cresc. 1, 30.—
B Trop., a characteristic , mark , character , style , etc. (only ante- and postclass.): Luciliano charactere libelli, Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 17; Serv. ad Verg. E. 3, 1; Diom. p. 481 P. (cf. Cic. Or. 39, 134; id. Q. Fr. 2, 15 (16), 5; and Gell. 7, 14, 1, in which passages it is written as Greek).