characterize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To describe the qualities of someone or something.

   You could characterize his behaviour as selfish.

2. 2
   verb

   To be a typical feature of something.

   Bright colours characterize her paintings.

From Medieval Latin charactērizō, from Ancient Greek χαρακτηρίζω (kharaktērízō, “to designate by a characteristic mark”), from χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “a mark, character”). By surface analysis, character + -ize.

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