Characterism - Charlatan

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Characterism (?), n. [Gr. � a characterizing.] A distinction of character; a characteristic. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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Characteristic (?), a. [Gr. �: cf. F. charactéristique.] Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive.
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Characteristic clearness of temper. Macaulay.
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Characteristic, n. 1. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized. Pope.
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The characteristics of a true critic. Johnson.
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2. (Math.) The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a logarithm.
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Characteristical (?), a. Characteristic.
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Characteristically, adv. In a characteristic manner; in a way that characterizes.
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Characterization (?), n. The act or process of characterizing.
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Characterize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Characterized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Characterizing.] [LL. characterizare, Gr. �: cf. F. charactériser.] 1. To make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or traits; to make with distinctive features.
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European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are Characterized. Arbuthnot.
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2. To engrave or imprint. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
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3. To indicate the character of; to describe.
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Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to characterize King William. Johnson.
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4. To be a characteristic of; to make, or express the character of.
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The softness and effeminacy which characterize the men of rank in most countries. W. Irving.

5. (Chem.) to identify the structure or nature of; as, the antibiotic activity in the sample was characterized by HPLC, and proved to be erythromycin.
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Syn. -- To describe; distinguish; mark; designate; style; particularize; entitle.
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characterized adj. stated precisely; -- of the meaning of words or concepts.
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Characterless, a. Destitute of any distinguishing quality; without character or force.
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Charactery (?), n. 1. The art or means of characterizing; a system of signs or characters; symbolism; distinctive mark.
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Fairies use flowers for their charactery. Shak.
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2. That which is charactered; the meaning. [Obs.]
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I will construe to thee
All the charactery of my sad brows. Shak.
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Charade (?), n. [F. charade, cf. Pr. charrada long chat, It ciarlare to chat, whence E. charlatan.] A verbal or acted enigma based upon a word which has two or more significant syllables or parts, each of which, as well as the word itself, is to be guessed from the descriptions or representations.
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Charadriidae n. a natural family of birds comprising the plovers.
Syn. -- family Charadriidae.
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Charadriiformes n. large diverse order of aquatic birds found along seacoasts and inland waters; shorebirds and coastal diving birds; most feed on animal life.
Syn. -- order Charadriiformes.
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Charadrius n. the type genus of the Charadriidae; the plovers.
Syn. -- genus Charadrius.
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Charales n. a small order of macroscopic fresh and brackish water algae with a distinct axis; the stoneworts.
Syn. -- order Charales.
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Charbocle (?), n. Carbuncle. [Written also Charboncle.] [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Charbon (?), n. [F., coal, charbon.] 1. (Far.) A small black spot or mark remaining in the cavity of the corner tooth of a horse after the large spot or mark has become obliterated.
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2. A very contagious and fatal disease of sheep, horses, and cattle. See .
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Charcoal (?), n. [See , v. t., to burn or to reduce to coal, and .] 1. Impure carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances; esp., coal made by charring wood in a kiln, retort, etc., from which air is excluded. It is used for fuel and in various mechanical, artistic, and chemical processes.
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2. (Fine Arts) Finely prepared charcoal in small sticks, used as a drawing implement.
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Coloq. Animal charcoal , a fine charcoal prepared by calcining bones in a closed vessel; -- used as a filtering agent in sugar refining, and as an absorbent and disinfectant. -- Coloq. Charcoal blacks , the black pigment, consisting of burnt ivory, bone, cock, peach stones, and other substances. -- Coloq. Charcoal drawing (Fine Arts), a drawing made with charcoal. See , 2. Until within a few years this material has been used almost exclusively for preliminary outline, etc., but at present many finished drawings are made with it. -- Coloq. Charcoal point , a carbon pencil prepared for use in an electric light apparatus. -- Coloq. Mineral charcoal , a term applied to silky fibrous layers of charcoal, interlaminated in beds of ordinary bituminous coal; -- known to miners as mother of coal.
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charcoal-gray charcoal-grey adj. very dark gray.
Syn. -- charcoal.
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charcuterie n. 1. a delicatessen that specializes in dressed meats and meat dishes, particularly pork products.
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2. the items typically sold in a .
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Chard (chärd), n. [Cf. F. carde esculent thistle.] 1. The tender leaves or leafstalks of the artichoke, white beet, etc., blanched for table use.
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2. A variety of the white beet, which produces large, succulent leaves and leafstalks.
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Chardonnay (chärd'nā), n. 1. a white wine grape.
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2. dry white Chablis-type table wine made from Chardonnay grapes.
Syn. -- Pinot Chardonnay.
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Chare (châr), n. A narrow street. [Prov. Eng.]
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Chare, n. & v. A chore; to chore; to do. See .
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Charge (chärj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charged (chärjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Charging.] [OF. chargier, F. charger, fr. LL. carricare, fr. L. carrus wagon. Cf. , , , and see .] 1. To lay on or impose, as a load, tax, or burden; to load; to fill.
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A carte that charged was with hay. Chaucer.
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The charging of children's memories with rules. Locke.
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2. To lay on or impose, as a task, duty, or trust; to command, instruct, or exhort with authority; to enjoin; to urge earnestly; as, to charge a jury; to charge the clergy of a diocese; to charge an agent.
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Moses . . . charged you to love the Lord your God. Josh. xxii. 5.
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Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. Shak.
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3. To lay on, impose, or make subject to or liable for.
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When land shall be charged by any lien. Kent.
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4. To fix or demand as a price; as, he charges two dollars a barrel for apples.
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5. To place something to the account of as a debt; to debit, as, to charge one with goods. Also, to enter upon the debit side of an account; as, to charge a sum to one.
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6. To impute or ascribe; to lay to one's charge.
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No more accuse thy pen, but charge the crime
On native sloth and negligence of time. Dryden.
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7. To accuse; to make a charge or assertion against (a person or thing); to lay the responsibility (for something said or done) at the door of.
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If he did that wrong you charge him with. Tennyson.
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8. To place within or upon any firearm, piece of apparatus or machinery, the quantity it is intended and fitted to hold or bear; to load; to fill; as, to charge a gun; to charge an electrical machine, etc.
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Their battering cannon charged to the mouths. Shak.
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9. To ornament with or cause to bear; as, to charge an architectural member with a molding.
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10. (Her.) To assume as a bearing; as, he charges three roses or; to add to or represent on; as, he charges his shield with three roses or.
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11. To call to account; to challenge. [Obs.]
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To charge me to an answer. Shak.
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12. To bear down upon; to rush upon; to attack.
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Charged our main battle's front. Shak.

Syn. -- To intrust; command; exhort; instruct; accuse; impeach; arraign. See .
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Charge (?), v. i. 1. To make an onset or rush; as, to charge with fixed bayonets.
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Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron. Glanvill.
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“Charge for the guns!” he said. Tennyson.
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2. To demand a price; as, to charge high for goods.
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3. To debit on an account; as, to charge for purchases.
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4. To squat on its belly and be still; -- a command given by a sportsman to a dog.
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Charge (?), n. [F. charge, fr. charger to load. See , v. t., and cf. , .] 1. A load or burder laid upon a person or thing.
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2. A person or thing commited or intrusted to the care, custody, or management of another; a trust.
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☞ The people of a parish or church are called the charge of the clergyman who is set over them.
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3. Custody or care of any person, thing, or place; office; responsibility; oversight; obigation; duty.
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'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand. Shak.
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4. Heed; care; anxiety; trouble. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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5. Harm. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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6. An order; a mandate or command; an injunction.
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The king gave cherge concerning Absalom. 2. Sam. xviii. 5.
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7. An address (esp. an earnest or impressive address) containing instruction or exhortation; as, the charge of a judge to a jury; the charge of a bishop to his clergy.
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8. An accusation of a wrong of offense; allegation; indictment; specification of something alleged.
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The charge of confounding very different classes of phenomena. Whewell.
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9. Whatever constitutes a burden on property, as rents, taxes, lines, etc.; costs; expense incurred; -- usually in the plural.
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10. The price demanded for a thing or service.
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11. An entry or a account of that which is due from one party to another; that which is debited in a business transaction; as, a charge in an account book.
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12. That quantity, as of ammunition, electricity, ore, fuel, etc., which any apparatus, as a gun, battery, furnace, machine, etc., is intended to receive and fitted to hold, or which is actually in it at one time
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13. The act of rushing upon, or towards, an enemy; a sudden onset or attack, as of troops, esp. cavalry; hence, the signal for attack; as, to sound the charge.
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Never, in any other war afore, gave the Romans a hotter charge upon the enemies. Holland.
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The charge of the light brigade. Tennyson.
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14. A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack; as, to bring a weapon to the charge.
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15. (Far.) A sort of plaster or ointment.
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16. (Her.) A bearing. See , n., 8.
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17. [Cf. .] Thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; -- called also charre.
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18. Weight; import; value.
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Many suchlike “as's” of great charge. Shak.
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Coloq. Back charge . See under , a. -- Coloq. Bursting charge . (a) (Mil.) The charge which bursts a shell, etc. (b) (Mining) A small quantity of fine powder to secure the ignition of a charge of coarse powder in blasting. -- Coloq. Charge and discharge (Equity Practice), the old mode or form of taking an account before a master in chancery. -- Coloq. Charge sheet , the paper on which are entered at a police station all arrests and accusations. -- Coloq. To sound the charge , to give the signal for an attack.

Syn. -- Care; custody; trust; management; office; expense; cost; price; assault; attack; onset; injunction; command; order; mandate; instruction; accusation; indictment.
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Chargeable (?), a. 1. That may be charged, laid, imposed, or imputes; as, a duty chargeable on iron; a fault chargeable on a man.
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2. Subject to be charge or accused; liable or responsible; as, revenues chargeable with a claim; a man chargeable with murder.
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3. Serving to create expense; costly; burdensome.
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That we might not be chargeable to any of you. 2. Thess. iii. 8.
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For the sculptures, which are elegant, were very chargeable. Evelyn.
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Chargeableness, n. The quality of being chargeable or expensive. [Obs.] Whitelocke.
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Chargeably (?), adv. At great cost; expensively. [Obs.]
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Chargeant (?), a. [F. chargeant, fr. charger to load.] Burdensome; troublesome. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Chargé d'affaires (?), n.; pl. Chargés d'affaires. [F., “charged with affairs.”] A diplomatic representative, or minister of an inferior grade, accredited by the government of one state to the minister of foreign affairs of another; also, a substitute, ad interim, for an ambassador or minister plenipotentiary.
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Chargeful (?), a. Costly; expensive. [Obs.]
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The fineness of the gold and chargeful fashion. Shak.
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Chargehouse (?), n. A schoolhouse. [Obs.]
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Chargeless, a. Free from, or with little, charge.
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Chargeous (?), a. Burdensome. [Obs.]
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I was chargeous to no man. Wyclif, (2 Cor. xi. 9).
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Charger (?), n. 1. One who, or that which charges.
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2. An instrument for measuring or inserting a charge.
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3. A large dish. [Obs.]
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Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. Matt. xiv. 8.
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4. A horse for battle or parade. Macaulay.
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And furious every charger neighed. Campbell.
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Chargeship (?), n. The office of a chargé d'affaires.
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Charily (?), adv. In a chary manner; carefully; cautiously; frugally.
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Charina n. a genus of boas of western North America.
Syn. -- genus Charina.
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Chariness, n. The quality of being chary.
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Chariot (?), n. [F. Chariot, from char car. See .] 1. (Antiq.) A two-wheeled car or vehicle for war, racing, state processions, etc.
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First moved the chariots, after whom the foot. Cowper.
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2. A four-wheeled pleasure or state carriage, having one seat. Shak.
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Chariot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charioted; p. pr. & vb. n. Charioting.] To convey in a chariot. Milton.
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Chariotee (?), n. A light, covered, four-wheeled pleasure carriage with two seats.
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Charioteer (?), n. 1. One who drives a chariot.
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2. (Astron.) A constellation. See , and .
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Charism (?), n. [Gr. � gift.] (Eccl.) A miraculously given power, as of healing, speaking foreign languages without instruction, etc., attributed to some of the early Christians.
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Charismatic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a charism.
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Charitable (?), a. [F. See .] 1. Full of love and good will; benevolent; kind.
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Be thy intents wicked or charitable, . . .
. . . I will speak to thee. Shak.
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2. Liberal in judging of others; disposed to look on the best side, and to avoid harsh judgment.
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3. Liberal in benefactions to the poor; giving freely; generous; beneficent.
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What charitable men afford to beggars. Shak.
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4. Of or pertaining to charity; springing from, or intended for, charity; relating to almsgiving; eleemosynary; as, a charitable institution.
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5. Dictated by kindness; favorable; lenient.
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By a charitable construction it may be a sermon. L. Andrews.

Syn. -- Kind; beneficent; benevolent; generous; lenient; forgiving; helpful; liberal; favorable; indulgent.
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Charitableness, n. The quality of being charitable; the exercise of charity.
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Charitably, adv. In a charitable manner.
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Charity (?), n.; pl. Charities (#). [F. charité fr. L. caritas dearness, high regard, love, from carus dear, costly, loved; asin to Skr. kam to wish, love, cf. Ir. cara a friend, W. caru to love. Cf. .]
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1. Love; universal benevolence; good will.
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Now abideth faith, hope, charity, three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1. Cor. xiii. 13.
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They, at least, are little to be envied, in whose hearts the great charities . . . lie dead. Ruskin.
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With malice towards none, with charity for all. Lincoln.
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2. Liberality in judging of men and their actions; a disposition which inclines men to put the best construction on the words and actions of others.
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The highest exercise of charity is charity towards the uncharitable. Buckminster.
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3. Liberality to the poor and the suffering, to benevolent institutions, or to worthy causes; generosity.
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The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido to the Trojans, spake like a Christian. Dryden.
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4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or suffering for their relief; alms; any act of kindness.
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She did ill then to refuse her a charity. L'Estrange.
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5. A charitable institution, or a gift to create and support such an institution; as, Lady Margaret's charity.
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6. pl. (Law) Eleemosynary appointments [grants or devises] including relief of the poor or friendless, education, religious culture, and public institutions.
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The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless,
Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers. Wordsworth.
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Coloq. Sisters of Charity (R. C. Ch.), a sisterhood of religious women engaged in works of mercy, esp. in nursing the sick; -- a popular designation. There are various orders of the Sisters of Charity.

Syn. -- Love; benevolence; good will; affection; tenderness; beneficence; liberality; almsgiving.
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Charivari (?), n. [F.] A mock serenade of discordant noises, made with kettles, tin horns, etc., designed to annoy and insult; -- called also shivaree.
Syn. -- shivaree, charivari, callithump, callathump.
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☞ It was at first performed before the house of any person of advanced age who married a second time.
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Chark (?), n. [Abbrev. fr. charcoal.] Charcoal; a cinder. [Obs.] DeFoe.
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Chark, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charked (?).] To burn to a coal; to char. [Obs.]
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Charlatan (?), n. [F. charlatan, fr. It. ciarlatano, fr. ciarlare to chartter, prate; of imitative origin; cf. It. zirlare to whistle like a thrush.] One who prates much in his own favor, and makes unwarrantable pretensions; a quack; an impostor; an empiric; a mountebank.
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