*char*

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'ana` up + xa`ris grace. ] (Bot.) A fresh-water weed of the frog's-bit family (Hydrocharidaceae), native to America. Transferred to England it became an obstruction to navigation. Called also waterweed and water thyme. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. A kind of wine made at Bacharach on the Rhine. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To charm; to captivate. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ After Thomas Blanchard, American inventor. ] (Mach.) A kind of wood-turning lathe for making noncircular and irregular forms, as felloes, gun stocks, lasts, spokes, etc., after a given pattern. The pattern and work rotate on parallel spindles in the same direction with the same speed, and the work is shaped by a rapidly rotating cutter whose position is varied by the pattern acting as a cam upon a follower wheel traversing slowly along the pattern. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

prop. n. (Geography) The capital city of Romania. Population (2000) = 2, 351, 000. [ PJC ]

prop. n. The type and sole genus of Carchariidae; the sand sharks.
Syn. -- genus Carcharias, Odontaspis, genus Odontaspis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. a natural family comprising the sand sharks; in some classifications coextensive with the family Carcharhinidae.
Syn. -- family Carchariidae, Odontaspididae, family Odontaspididae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A genus of sharks including man-eating sharks, such as the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias.
Syn. -- genus Carcharodon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. ] A car; a chariot. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. cherr, char a turning, time, work, AS. cerr, cyrr, turn, occasion, business, fr. cerran, cyrran, to turn; akin to OS. kërian, OHG. chëran, G. kehren. Cf. Chore, Ajar. ] Work done by the day; a single job, or task; a chore. [ Written also chare. ] [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When thou hast done this chare, I give thee leave
To play till doomsday. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Charred p. pr. & vb. n. Charring. ] [ Prob. the same word as char to perform (see Char, n.), the modern use coming from charcoal, prop. coal-turned, turned to coal. ] 1. To reduce to coal or carbon by exposure to heat; to reduce to charcoal; to burn to a cinder. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To burn slightly or partially; as, to char wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., of uncertain origin. ] (Bot.) A genus of flowerless plants, having articulated stems and whorled branches. They flourish in wet places. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Chars-a-banc [ F. ] A long, light, open vehicle, with benches or seats running lengthwise. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any freshwater fish of the family Characinidae; -- also called characin.
Syn. -- characin, characin fish. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a natural family of tropical freshwater fishes of Africa and southern and central America.
Syn. -- family Characidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any freshwater fish of the family Characinidae; -- also called characid.
Syn. -- characin fish, characid. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. former name of the family Characidae.
Syn. -- family Characinidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A distinctive mark; a character; a letter or sign. [ Obs. ] See Character. [ 1913 Webster ]

In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., an instrument for marking, character, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to make sharp, to cut into furrows, to engrave: cf. F. caractère. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol. [ 1913 Webster ]

It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye. Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar form of letters used by a particular person or people; as, an inscription in the Runic character. [ 1913 Webster ]

You know the character to be your brother's? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others; the stamp impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is; nature; disposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

The character or that dominion. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Know well each Ancient's proper character;
His fable, subject, scope in every page;
Religion, Country, genius of his Age. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character; his character saves him from suspicion. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty; as, in the miserable character of a slave; in his character as a magistrate; her character as a daughter. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation; as, a man's character for truth and veracity; to give one a bad character. [ 1913 Webster ]

This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

9. A unique or extraordinary individuality; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits; a person who illustrates certain phases of character; as, Randolph was a character; Cæsar is a great historical character. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. One of the persons of a drama or novel. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “It would be well if character and reputation were used distinctively. In truth, character is what a person is; reputation is what he is supposed to be. Character is in himself, reputation is in the minds of others. Character is injured by temptations, and by wrongdoing; reputation by slanders, and libels. Character endures throughout defamation in every form, but perishes when there is a voluntary transgression; reputation may last through numerous transgressions, but be destroyed by a single, and even an unfounded, accusation or aspersion.” Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Charactered ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To engrave; to inscribe. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

These trees shall be my books.
And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize. [ R. ] Mitford. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; a characterizing. ] A distinction of character; a characteristic. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. charactéristique. ] Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive. [ 1913 Webster ]

Characteristic clearness of temper. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

The characteristics of a true critic. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a logarithm. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characteristic. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a characteristic manner; in a way that characterizes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of characterizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Characterized p. pr. & vb. n. Characterizing. ] [ LL. characterizare, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. charactériser. ] 1. To make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or traits; to make with distinctive features. [ 1913 Webster ]

European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are Characterized. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To engrave or imprint. [ Obs. ] Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To indicate the character of; to describe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to characterize King William. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be a characteristic of; to make, or express the character of. [ 1913 Webster ]

The softness and effeminacy which characterize the men of rank in most countries. W. Irving.

5. (Chem.) to identify the structure or nature of; as, the antibiotic activity in the sample was characterized by HPLC, and proved to be erythromycin. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- To describe; distinguish; mark; designate; style; particularize; entitle. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. stated precisely; -- of the meaning of words or concepts. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Destitute of any distinguishing quality; without character or force. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The art or means of characterizing; a system of signs or characters; symbolism; distinctive mark. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fairies use flowers for their charactery. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is charactered; the meaning. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I will construe to thee
All the charactery of my sad brows. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. charade, cf. Pr. charrada long chat, It ciarlare to chat, whence E. charlatan. ] A verbal or acted enigma based upon a word which has two or more significant syllables or parts, each of which, as well as the word itself, is to be guessed from the descriptions or representations. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a natural family of birds comprising the plovers.
Syn. -- family Charadriidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. large diverse order of aquatic birds found along seacoasts and inland waters; shorebirds and coastal diving birds; most feed on animal life.
Syn. -- order Charadriiformes. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the type genus of the Charadriidae; the plovers.
Syn. -- genus Charadrius. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a small order of macroscopic fresh and brackish water algae with a distinct axis; the stoneworts.
Syn. -- order Charales. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Carbuncle. [ Written also Charboncle. ] [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., coal, charbon. ] 1. (Far.) A small black spot or mark remaining in the cavity of the corner tooth of a horse after the large spot or mark has become obliterated. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A very contagious and fatal disease of sheep, horses, and cattle. See Maligmant pustule. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Char, v. t., to burn or to reduce to coal, and Coal. ] 1. Impure carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances; esp., coal made by charring wood in a kiln, retort, etc., from which air is excluded. It is used for fuel and in various mechanical, artistic, and chemical processes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Fine Arts) Finely prepared charcoal in small sticks, used as a drawing implement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Animal charcoal, a fine charcoal prepared by calcining bones in a closed vessel; -- used as a filtering agent in sugar refining, and as an absorbent and disinfectant. --
Charcoal blacks, the black pigment, consisting of burnt ivory, bone, cock, peach stones, and other substances. --
Charcoal drawing (Fine Arts), a drawing made with charcoal. See Charcoal, 2. Until within a few years this material has been used almost exclusively for preliminary outline, etc., but at present many finished drawings are made with it. --
Charcoal point, a carbon pencil prepared for use in an electric light apparatus. --
Mineral charcoal, a term applied to silky fibrous layers of charcoal, interlaminated in beds of ordinary bituminous coal; -- known to miners as mother of coal. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. very dark gray.
Syn. -- charcoal. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. a delicatessen that specializes in dressed meats and meat dishes, particularly pork products. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. the items typically sold in a charcuterie{ 1 }. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. carde esculent thistle. ] 1. The tender leaves or leafstalks of the artichoke, white beet, etc., blanched for table use. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A variety of the white beet, which produces large, succulent leaves and leafstalks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a white wine grape. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. dry white Chablis-type table wine made from Chardonnay grapes.
Syn. -- Pinot Chardonnay. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } v. t. [ See 3d Char. ] 1. To perform; to do; to finish. [ Obs. ] Nores. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thet char is chared, as the good wife said when she had hanged her husband. Old Proverb. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To work or hew, as stone. Oxf. Gloss. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } v. i. To work by the day, without being a regularly hired servant; to do small jobs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A narrow street. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. & v. A chore; to chore; to do. See Char. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Charged p. pr. & vb. n. Charging. ] [ OF. chargier, F. charger, fr. LL. carricare, fr. L. carrus wagon. Cf. Cargo, Caricature, Cark, and see Car. ] 1. To lay on or impose, as a load, tax, or burden; to load; to fill. [ 1913 Webster ]

A carte that charged was with hay. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The charging of children's memories with rules. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lay on or impose, as a task, duty, or trust; to command, instruct, or exhort with authority; to enjoin; to urge earnestly; as, to charge a jury; to charge the clergy of a diocese; to charge an agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moses . . . charged you to love the Lord your God. Josh. xxii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To lay on, impose, or make subject to or liable for. [ 1913 Webster ]

When land shall be charged by any lien. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To fix or demand as a price; as, he charges two dollars a barrel for apples. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To place something to the account of as a debt; to debit, as, to charge one with goods. Also, to enter upon the debit side of an account; as, to charge a sum to one. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To impute or ascribe; to lay to one's charge. [ 1913 Webster ]

No more accuse thy pen, but charge the crime
On native sloth and negligence of time. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To accuse; to make a charge or assertion against (a person or thing); to lay the responsibility (for something said or done) at the door of. [ 1913 Webster ]

If he did that wrong you charge him with. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To place within or upon any firearm, piece of apparatus or machinery, the quantity it is intended and fitted to hold or bear; to load; to fill; as, to charge a gun; to charge an electrical machine, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their battering cannon charged to the mouths. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To ornament with or cause to bear; as, to charge an architectural member with a molding. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Her.) To assume as a bearing; as, he charges three roses or; to add to or represent on; as, he charges his shield with three roses or. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. To call to account; to challenge. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To charge me to an answer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. To bear down upon; to rush upon; to attack. [ 1913 Webster ]

Charged our main battle's front. Shak.

Syn. -- To intrust; command; exhort; instruct; accuse; impeach; arraign. See Accuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To make an onset or rush; as, to charge with fixed bayonets. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

“Charge for the guns!” he said. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To demand a price; as, to charge high for goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To debit on an account; as, to charge for purchases. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To squat on its belly and be still; -- a command given by a sportsman to a dog. [ 1913 Webster ]