Charactes, kar -ak-ter, s

a mark made by cutting, engraving, or writing a letter or sign: a peculiar form of letter; peculiar distinctive qualities; the qualities which distinguish an individual or an office; good moral qualities; decided qualities; a description exhibiting qualities; certificate of qualities; person or personage: v.a. to inscribe; to engrave. Generic characters, those which constitute a genus. Specific characters, those which distinguish a species (Gr. charas so, to cut; to engrave).