Chär'aç-ter-ize, v. t.
[imp. & p. p. CHARACTERIZED; p. pr. & vb. n. CHARACTERIZING.] [Fr. caractériser, L. Lat. characterizare, Gr. χαρακτηρίζειν.] 1. To mark with a peculiar stamp or figure. European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are characterized. Arbuthnot.
- To engrave or imprint. [Obs.] Hale.
- To give a character or an account of the personal qualities of a man; to describe by peculiar qualities.
Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to characterize King William. Johnson. 4. To distinguish, mark, or express the character of; to compose the peculiar qualities of. “The softness and effeminacy which characterize the men of rank in most countries.” W. Irving. Syn.—To describe; distinguish; mark; designate; entitle.