charactery

From character +‎ -y or +‎ -ery.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkæɹ.ək.təɹ.i/, /ˈkæɹ.ək.tɹi/, (archaic) /kəˈɹæk.təɹ.i/
• Rhymes: -æktəɹi

charactery (countable and uncountable, plural characteries)

1. (obsolete) The art or means of characterizing.
2. (obsolete) a system of signs or characters, i.e. symbolism.
3. (obsolete) A distinctive mark.
4. (obsolete) Something which has a meaning.
   • 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

     I will construe to thee
     All the charactery of my sad brows.

   • 1826, [Mary Shelley], The Last Man. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC:

     Sometimes she looked at Raymond, as if to say—That it should be so! At others her countenance expressed—I will still do all I can to make you happy. But Adrian read with uncertain aim the charactery of her face, and might mistake.—Clara was always with her, and she seemed most at ease

• c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:

  Fairies use flowers for their charactery.

• 1818, John Keats, When I have fears that I may cease to be:

  When I have fears that I may cease to be
  Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
  Before high piled books, in charact'ry,
  Hold like rich garners the full ripen'd grain;

• 1901 March – 1902 September, Jack London, “(please specify the page)”, in Children of the Frost, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., published September 1902, →OCLC:

  "Thus it comes? It be there in the paper?" Imber's voice sank in whisperful awe as he crackled the sheets 'twixt thumb and finger and stared at the charactery scrawled thereon. "It be a great medicine, Howkan, and thou art a worker of wonders."

• “charactery”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

character +‎ -y

charactery (comparative more charactery, superlative most charactery)

1. (informal, rare) Characterful.