English
lead character
From lead + character.
A compound of lead + character
Proto-Indo-European *leyt- ‘to leave, die’
…
Proto-Germanic *laidijaną ‘to cause one to go, lead’
Proto-West Germanic *laidijan
Old English lǣdan ‘to lead’
Middle English leden
English lead
Ancient Greek χαράσσω ‘to engrave’
Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ ‘type’
Latin charactēr ‘branding iron’
Old French caractere ‘mark’
Middle English caracter
English character
Today it means
noun The main protagonist in a work.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / lead character