Characteristical

/ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪkəl/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or constituting the essential or distinctive character of someone or something; typical or distinctive.

Etymology

From 'characteristic' with the older suffix '-al' attached (making '-ical'), an archaic or dialect variant of 'characteristic' used in older English texts.

Kelly Says

This word is almost never used anymore—it's been replaced by 'characteristic'—but you might find it in Shakespeare or old medical texts, showing how English simplified its vocabulary over time.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.