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;

• Template:RQ:London Children of the Frost

• “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.