CHARACTER, in a general sense, signifies a mark or figure, drawn on paper, metal, stone, or other matter, with a pen, graver, chisel, or other instrument, to signify or denote any thing. The word is Greek, χαρακτός, formed from the verb, χαρασσω, insculpere, "to engrave, impress," &c.
The various kinds of characters may be reduced to three heads, viz. Literal Characters, Numerical Characters, and Abbreviations.
1. Literal CHARACTER, is a letter of the alphabet, serving to indicate some articulate sound, expressive of some idea or conception of the mind. See ALPHABET.
1. These may be divided, with regard to their nature and use, into Nominal Characters, or those we properly call letters; which serve to express the names of things: See LETTER. Real Characters; those that instead of names express things and ideas: See IDEA, &c. Emblematical or Symbolical Characters; which have this in common with real ones, that they express the things themselves; but have this further, that they in some measure personate them, and exhibit their form: such are the hieroglyphics of the ancient Egyptians. See HIEROGLYPHIC, SYMBOL, &c.
2. Literal CHARACTERS may be again divided, with regard to their invention and use, into particular and general or universal.