trait

 
Pronunciation: /treɪt, treɪ/

noun

  • a distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically one belonging to a person: the traditionally British trait of self-denigration
  • a genetically determined characteristic: breeders were installing some trait that allowed the crop to thrive

Origin:

mid 16th century: from French, from Latin tractus 'drawing, draught' (see tract1). An early sense was 'stroke of the pen or pencil in a picture', giving rise to the sense 'a particular feature of mind or character' (mid 18th century)