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χα^ρακτήρ , ῆρος, , (χαράσσω)
A.engraver, Euryph. ap. Stob.4.39.27; one who mints coins, IPE1216A14 (Olbia, iii B. C.).
2. graving tool, Daimachus 4J. (pl.) ap.St.Byz. s.v. Λακεδαίμων.
3. die, stamp, IG22.1013.64, 1408.11, 1424a120, 280, 1469.107; in a simile, Arist.GA781a28.
4. branding-iron, Clara Rhodos 2.171 (ii B. C.).
II. mark engraved, impress, stamp on coins and seals, “ἀργύρου λαμπρὸς χ.E.El.559, cf. Pl.Plt.289b, Arist. Pol.1257a40; coin type, standard,ἦν δ᾽ ἀρχαῖος χ. δίδραχμονId.Ath.10.2, cf. OGI339.45 (Sestos, ii B. C.), D.S.17.66; Κότυος χ. Head Hist.Num.2285 (Thrace, i B. C.): hence, in pl., = χάραγμα 1.2, PFlor.61.21 (i A. D.): metaph., οἷς ἀρετὴ εὐδοξίας χαρακτῆρα τοῖς ἔργοις ἐπέβαλεν set a stamp upon them, Isoc.1.8; Κύπριος (s. v. l.) “χαρακτὴρ . . ἐν γυναικείοις τύποις εἰκὼς πέπληκταιA.Supp.282.
2. esp. of figures or letters,οἱ τῶν γραμμάτων χ.Plu.2.214f; τύπος τῶν χ. ib.577f, cf. 1120f, D.S.3.67; of the letters used by Hp. in Epid.3.1, Zeno and Apollonius ap.Gal.17(1).618, cf. 524sq.; of a single letter of the alphabet, Jul.Or.2.72a; “ξυλήφια βραχέα ἔχοντα χαρακτῆραPlb.6.35.7; brand on a camel, PGen.29.8 (ii A. D.); of symbols in a prescription, Gal.13.995; of magical symbols (such as the seven vowels), “τῶν χ. ἀπόρρητος φύσιςJul.Or.7.216c, cf. Iamb.Myst.3.13, Sallust.15; of hieroglyphs, opp. γράμματα, Luc. Herm.44.
3. metaph., distinctive mark or token impressed (as it were) on a person or thing, by which it is known from others, characteristic, character, χ. γλώσσης, of a particular dialect, Hdt.1.57,142; “χ. αὑτὸς ἐν γλώσσῃS.Fr.176; “χ. ἡμεδαπὸς τῶν ῥημάτωνAr.Pax220; Ἑλληνικὸς χ. Greek idiom, D.H.Pomp.3: freq. of persons, feature, χ. τοῦ προσώπουHdt.1.116; “εἰληφέναι χαρακτῆρα ἑκατέρου τοῦ εἴδουςPl.Phdr.263b; “οἱ τῆς ὄψεως χ.D.S.1.91; “ἀνδρῶν οὐδεὶς χ. ἐμπέφυκε σώματιE.Med.519; “δεινὸς χ. κἀπίσημος . . ἐσθλῶν γενέσθαιId.Hec.379; “φανερὸς χ. ἀρετᾶςId.HF659 (lyr.); ἠθικοὶ χ., title of work by Thphr.: pl., οἱ χ. the features of the face, J.AJ13.12.1, cf. OGI508.13 (Ephesus, ii A. D.); χ. μορφῆς ἐμῆς ib.383.60 (Nemrud Dagh, i B. C., sg.); [τοῦ ἐμβρύου] Sor.1.33 (pl.): hence,
4. type or character (regarded as shared with others) of a thing or person, rarely of an individual nature,ἀνδρὸς χ. ἐκ λόγου γνωρίζεταιMen.72; “χ. μοχθηρότατον παραπλάττεσθαιPhld.Rh.1.6 S.; “τὸν χ. τὸν ΔιογένουςArr.Epict.3.22.80; τίνα ἔχει χ. τὰ δόγματα; ib.4.5.17; of nations, Plb.18.34.7.
6. impress, image, τῆς ὑποστάσεως [τοῦ θεοῦ] Ep.Heb.1.3; πάθους, ἀρετῆς, Longin.22.1, Eun.Hist.p.243 D.: abs., οἱ Σεβάστειοι χ. the imperial seal, i.e. the emperor himself, IG5(2).268.24 (Mantinea, i B. C.).
7. Gramm., typical form, A.D.Synt.20.10, 103.23.
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  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (30):
    • Cicero, Letters to his brother Quintus, 2.15.5
    • Aeschylus, Suppliant Maidens, 282
    • Aristophanes, Peace, 220
    • Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, 10.2
    • Diodorus, Historical Library, 17.66
    • Euripides, Electra, 559
    • Euripides, Hecuba, 379
    • Euripides, Heracles, 659
    • Euripides, Medea, 519
    • Herodotus, Histories, 1.116
    • Herodotus, Histories, 1.57
    • Isocrates, To Demonicus, 8
    • Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 13.12.1
    • Plato, Statesman, 289b
    • Plato, Phaedrus, 263b
    • Sophocles, Ichneutae, 176
    • Polybius, Histories, 18.34.7
    • Polybius, Histories, 6.35.7
    • Strabo, Geography, 13.1.66
    • Hippocrates, De morbis popularibus, 3.1
    • Lucian, Hermotimus, 44
    • Diodorus, Historical Library, 1.91
    • Diodorus, Historical Library, 3.67
    • Cicero, Orator, 11.36
    • Cicero, Orator, 39.134
    • Dionysius of Halicarnassus, De Lysia, 11
    • Dionysius of Halicarnassus, De Demosthene, 33
    • Dionysius of Halicarnassus, De Demosthene, 9
    • Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Epistula ad Pompeium Geminum, 1
    • Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Epistula ad Pompeium Geminum, 3
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