{"era":"current","word":"characters","meaning":"distinctive qualities or features; symbols representing sounds or letters","children":[{"era":"1200s","word":"character","meaning":"a distinctive quality; a letter or symbol","children":[{"era":"medieval","word":"character","meaning":"a distinctive mark or quality","children":[{"era":"classical","word":"charakter","meaning":"an engraved mark, a distinctive feature","children":[{"era":"classical","word":"charassein","meaning":"to engrave, mark, cut","children":[],"language":"Greek"}],"language":"Greek"}],"language":"Old French"}],"language":"Middle English"}],"language":"Modern English"}