'characterful' originates from English, specifically formed from the noun 'character' plus the suffix '-ful', where 'character' ultimately comes from Greek 'kharaktēr' and '-ful' meant 'full of'.

'characterful' was formed in modern English by adding the productive adjectival suffix '-ful' to the noun 'character'. The noun 'character' came into English via Latin and Old French from Greek 'kharaktēr'.

Initially, the root 'kharaktēr' meant 'a mark or stamp', then 'character' came to mean 'distinctive qualities or personality', and 'characterful' evolved to mean 'full of distinctive qualities (personality or charm)'.