Such \Such\, a. [OE. such, sich, sech, sik, swich, swilch,
swulch, swilc, swulc, AS. swelc, swilc, swylc; akin to
OFries. selik, D. zulk, OS. sulic, OHG. sulih, solih, G.
solch, Icel. sl[=i]kr, OSw. salik, Sw. slik, Dan. slig, Goth.
swaleiks; originally meaning, so shaped. [root]192. See So,
Like, a., and cf. Which.]
1. Of that kind; of the like kind; like; resembling; similar;
as, we never saw such a day; -- followed by that or as
introducing the word or proposition which defines the
similarity, or the standard of comparison; as, the books
are not such that I can recommend them, or, not such as I
can recommend; these apples are not such as those we saw
yesterday; give your children such precepts as tend to
make them better.
And in his time such a conqueror That greater was
there none under the sun. --Chaucer.
His misery was such that none of the bystanders
could refrain from weeping. --Macaulay.
Note: The indefinite article a or an never precedes such, but
is placed between it and the noun to which it refers;
as, such a man; such an honor. The indefinite adjective
some, several, one, few, many, all, etc., precede such;
as, one such book is enough; all such people ought to
be avoided; few such ideas were then held.
2. Having the particular quality or character specified.
That thou art happy, owe to God; That thou
continuest such, owe to thyself. --Milton.
3. The same that; -- with as; as, this was the state of the
kingdom at such time as the enemy landed. ``[It] hath such
senses as we have.'' --Shak.
4. Certain; -- representing the object as already
particularized in terms which are not mentioned.
In rushed one and tells him such a knight Is new
arrived. --Daniel.
To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and
continue there a year. --James iv.
13.
Note: Such is used pronominally. ``He was the father of such
as dwell in tents.'' --Gen. iv. 20. ``Such as I are
free in spirit when our limbs are chained.'' --Sir W.
Scott. Such is also used before adjectives joined to
substantives; as, the fleet encountered such a terrible
storm that it put back. ``Everything was managed with
so much care, and such excellent order was observed.''
--De Foe.
Temple sprung from a family which . . . long
after his death produced so many eminent men, and
formed such distinguished alliances, that, etc.
--Macaulay.
Such is used emphatically, without the correlative.
Now will he be mocking: I shall have such a life.
--Shak.
Such was formerly used with numerals in the sense of
times as much or as many; as, such ten, or ten times as
many.
Such and such, or Such or such, certain; some; -- used to
represent the object indefinitely, as already
particularized in one way or another, or as being of one
kind or another. ``In such and such a place shall be my
camp.'' --2 Kings vi. 8. ``Sovereign authority may enact a
law commanding such and such an action.'' --South.
Such like or character, of the like kind.
And many other such like things ye do. --Mark vii.
8.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Character \Char"ac*ter\, n. [L., an instrument for marking,
character, Gr. ?, fr. ? to make sharp, to cut into furrows,
to engrave: cf. F. caract[`e]re.]
1. A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol.
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. --Holder.
2. Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar
form of letters used by a particular person or people; as,
an inscription in the Runic character.
You know the character to be your brother's? --Shak.
3. The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a
person or a thing is distinguished from others; the stamp
impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a
person or thing really is; nature; disposition.
The character or that dominion. --Milton.
Know well each Ancient's proper character; His
fable, subject, scope in every page; Religion,
Country, genius of his Age. --Pope.
A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character.
--Motley.
4. Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality;
as, he has a great deal of character.
5. Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the
life; as, a man of character; his character saves him from
suspicion.
6. Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct
with respect to a certain office or duty; as, in the
miserable character of a slave; in his character as a
magistrate; her character as a daughter.
7. The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or
thing; reputation; as, a man's character for truth and
veracity; to give one a bad character.
This subterraneous passage is much mended since
Seneca gave so bad a character of it. --Addison.
8. A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc.,
given to a servant. [Colloq.]
9. A unique or extraordinary individuality; a person
characterized by peculiar or notable traits; a person who
illustrates certain phases of character; as, Randolph was
a character; C[ae]sar is a great historical character.
10. One of the persons of a drama or novel.
Note: ``It would be well if character and reputation were
used distinctively. In truth, character is what a
person is; reputation is what he is supposed to be.
Character is in himself, reputation is in the minds of
others. Character is injured by temptations, and by
wrongdoing; reputation by slanders, and libels.
Character endures throughout defamation in every form,
but perishes when there is a voluntary transgression;
reputation may last through numerous transgressions,
but be destroyed by a single, and even an unfounded,
accusation or aspersion.'' --Abbott.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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