charaktêrizein

Charaktêrizein is an ancient Greek verb meaning "to engrave" or "to mark." It derives from the noun *charaktêr*, which referred to a stamp, die, or distinctive mark used to identify ownership or authenticity. Over time, the verb's meaning expanded to encompass the act of distinguishing or defining something by its particular characteristics.

In classical Greek literature, *charaktêrizein* could be used literally for imprinting a mark on an object, such as a coin or a seal. However, it also developed a more figurative sense, referring to the process of describing or delineating the essential qualities of a person, place, or concept. To *charaktêrizein* something was to identify what made it unique and recognizable.

The philosophical and rhetorical traditions of ancient Greece adopted this verb to discuss the nature of identity and definition. Philosophers used it to explore how the essence or defining features of a thing could be understood. Rhetoricians employed it in the art of description, aiming to vividly portray subjects by highlighting their most salient attributes. The concept embedded in *charaktêrizein* thus laid groundwork for later discussions of characterization, description, and definition in various fields.