What is CHARACTER? Definition of CHARACTER in Black's Law Dictionary - Legal dictionary - Glossary of legal terms.
Class or division to which claim belongs, Jackson State Nat. Bank of Jackson, Miss., v. Merchants' Bank & Trust Co. of Jackson, Miss., 177 La. 975, 149 So. 539, 541.
The aggregate of the moral qualities which belong to and distinguish an individual person; the general result of the one's distinguishing attributes.
That moral predisposition or habit, or aggregate of ethical qualities, which is believed to attach to a person, on the strength of the common opinion and report concerning him. A person's fixed disposition or tendency, as evidenced to others by his habits of life, through the manifestation of which his general reputation for the possession of a character, good or otherwise, is obtained. Keith v. State, 127 Tenn. 40, 152 S.W. 1029, 1030.
The estimate attached to an individual or thing the community. Biddle v. Riley, 118 Ark. 206, 176 S.W. 134, 137, L.R.A.1915F, 992; Rogers v. State, 126 Tex.Cr.R. 39, 70 S. W.2d 188, 189; H. L. Shaffer & Co. v. Prosser, 99 Colo. 335, 62 P.2d 1161, 1133. The opinion generally entertained of a person derived from the common report of the people who are acquainted with him. Smith v. State, 88 Ala. 73, 7 So. 52; State v. Turner, 36 S.C. 534, 15 S.E. 602.
Although "character" is often used in the sense of "reputation," Garrison v. State, 217 Ala. 322, 116 So. 705; Commonwealth v. Harvie, 345 Pa. 516, 28 A.2d 926, 927; the terms are distinguishable, State v. Taylor, 267 Mo. 41, 183 S.W. 299, 301; Commonwealth v. Webb, 252 Pa. 187, 97 A. 189, 192.
Though, in a subjective sense, character, general character, and general report or reputation are the same. Powers v. Leach, 26 Vt. 278; and though general character has always been proved by proving general reputation. Leverich v. Frank, 6 Or. 213. See, also, Richardson v. State, 94 Tex.Cr.R. 616, 253 S.W. 273, 277. "Character" is what a man is, and "reputation" is what he is supposed to be. State v. Pickett, 202 Iowa, 1321, 210 N.W. 782, 783. "Character" depends on attributes possessed, and "reputation" on attributes which others believe one to possess. Bills v. State, 187 Ind. 721, 119 N.E. 465. The former signifies reality and the latter merely what is accepted to be reality at present. State v. Leabo, 120 Or. 160, 249 P. 363.
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