Noun

(en noun)

The proportion of different parts to make a whole.

The general makeup of something.

(obsolete) An agreement or treaty used to settle differences; later especially, an agreement to stop hostilities; a truce.

* , I.40:

It will stoope and yeeld upon better compositions to him that shall make head against it.

* 1630 , John Smith, True travels , in Kupperman 1988, p.50:

with an incredible courage they advanced to the push of the Pike with the defendants, that with the like courage repulsed, that the Turks retired and fled into the Castle, from whence by a flag of truce they desired composition .

(obsolete) An agreement to pay money in order to clear a liability or obligation; a settling.

* 1745 , Edward Young, Night-Thoughts , II:

Insidious death! should his strong hand arrest, / No composition sets the prisoner free.

(legal) an agreement or compromise by which a creditor or group of creditors accepts partial payment from a debtor.

A mixture or compound; the result of composing.

An essay.

(linguistics) The formation of compound words from separate words.

A work of music, literature or art.

* 1818 , (Jane Austen), A letter dated 8 September 1818:

and how good Mrs. West could have written such books and collected so many hard words, with all her family cares, is still more a matter of astonishment. Composition seems to me impossible with a head full of joints of mutton and doses of rhubarb.

(printing) Typesetting.

(label) Applying a function to the result of another.

(obsolete) Consistency; accord; congruity.

* Shakespeare

There is no composition in these news / That gives them credit.

Synthesis as opposed to analysis.

* Sir Isaac Newton

The investigation of difficult things by the method of analysis ought ever to precede the method of composition .

Noun

A being involved in the action of a story.

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.}}

* {{quote-news, year=2012, date=April 26, author=Tasha Robinson, work=The Onion AV Club

, title= Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits , passage=But Pirates! comes with all the usual Aardman strengths intact, particularly the sense that its characters and creators alike are too good-hearted and sweet to nitpick. The ambition is all in the craft rather than in the storytelling, but it’s hard to say no to the proficiency of that craft, or the mild good cheer behind it. }}

A distinguishing feature; characteristic.

A complex of mental and ethical traits marking a person or a group.

* Motley

a man of thoroughly subservient character

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=3 , passage=Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.}}

Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; moral strength.

He has a great deal of character .

A unique or extraordinary individual; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits, especially charisma.

Julius Caesar is a great historical character .

A written or printed symbol, or letter.

* Holder

It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye.

Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the particular form of letters used by a person or people.

an inscription in the Runic character

* Shakespeare

You know the character to be your brother's?

(computing) One of the basic elements making up a text file or string: a code representing a printing character or a control character.

(informal) A person or individual, especially one who is unknown or raises suspicions.

(mathematics) A complex number representing an element of a finite Abelian group.

Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty.

in the miserable character of a slave

in his character as a magistrate

(dated) The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation.

a man's character for truth and veracity

Her actions give her a bad character .

* Addison

This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it.

(dated) A reference given to a servant, attesting to his/her behaviour, competence, etc.