An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1a) The aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.

1b) One such feature or trait; characteristic.

2. A person represented in a play, film, story, etc; role. See also
   → personage (Dictionary.com).
   

3. Computers: One of a set of symbols, such as letters or numbers, that are arranged to express information; the numerical code representing such a character.

Etymology (EN): M.E. carecter “distinctive mark,” from O.Fr. caractère, from L. character, from Gk. kharakter “graving tool, its mark,” from kharassein “to engrave,” from kharax “pointed stick.”

Etymology (PE): 1, 2) Serešt “nature, temperament, constitution; mixed,” sereštan “to mix, mingle; knead;” serišom “glue;” Mid.Pers. srištan “to mix, knead;” cf. Av. ham-sriš- “to put together;” Skt. śres- “to cling, stick, be attached;” Proto-Ir. root *sraiš- “to put together, attach” (Cheung 2007).
Sereštâr with -âr, contraction of âvar agent noun of âvardan “to bring; to cause, produce,” → format.

3. Daxšé, variants dâq “a brand, a mark burned on the skin of an
   animal with a hot iron,” Gilaki dajé “a brand,”
   Hamadani daj “sign placed on a heap of harvest indicating identity or ownership,” Mid.Pers. daxšag “mark, sign, charactersitic; (monthly) signs (of women)”, dazidan “to burn, scorch,” Av. daxša-
   “sign, mark, defect,” from dag- “to burn,” dažaiti “burns,” cf. Skt. dah- “to burn,” dahati “burns,” Gk. tephra “ash,” L. favilla “glowing ashes,” Lith. dagas “hot season,” O.Prus. dagis “summer,” P.Gmc. *dagaz, Ger. Tag, E. day; PIE *dheg^wh- “to burn.”