character

The story

1. Ancient Greekχαράσσω (kharássō)
2. Ancient Greekχαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr)
3. Latincharactēr
4. Old Frenchcaractere
5. Middle Englishcaracter
6. English todaycharacter

From Middle English caracter, from Old French caractere, from Latin character, from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “type, nature, character”), from χαράσσω (kharássō, “to engrave”). Displaced native English thew from Old English þēaw (in the plural) and Old English hād (“person, character”). Doublet of charakter.

Words from the same roots