cast vs character

cast

noun
  • The form of one's thoughts, mind etc. 

  • Visual appearance. 

  • An object made in a mould. 

  • A supportive and immobilising device used to help mend broken bones. 

  • A squint. 

  • Animal and insect remains which have been regurgitated by a bird. 

  • The collective group of actors performing a play or production together. Contrasted with crew. 

  • A small mass of earth "thrown off" or excreted by a worm. 

  • The number of hawks (or occasionally other birds) cast off at one time; a pair. 

  • Something which has been thrown, dispersed etc. 

  • The casting procedure. 

  • The mould used to make cast objects. 

  • A group of crabs. 

  • An instance of throwing out a fishing line. 

  • An act of throwing. 

adj
  • Of an animal, such as a horse or sheep: Lying in a position from which it cannot rise on its own. 

verb
  • To heave the lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water. 

  • To consider; to turn or revolve in the mind; to plan. 

  • To bring the bows of a sailing ship on to the required tack just as the anchor is weighed by use of the headsail; to bring (a ship) round. 

  • Of dogs, hunters: to spread out and search for a scent. 

  • To throw forward (a fishing line, net etc.) into the sea. 

  • To throw off (the skin) as a process of growth; to shed the hair or fur of the coat. 

  • To turn (the balance or scale); to overbalance; hence, to make preponderate; to decide. 

  • To throw. 

  • To throw down or aside. 

  • To deposit (a ballot or voting paper); to formally register (one's vote). 

  • To calculate the astrological value of (a horoscope, birth etc.). 

  • To throw (light etc.) on or upon something, or in a given direction. 

  • To open a circle in order to begin a spell or meeting of witches. 

  • To broadcast (video) over the Internet or a local network, especially to one's television. 

  • To remove, take off (clothes). 

  • To direct (one's eyes, gaze etc.). 

  • To shape (molten metal etc.) by pouring into a mould; to make (an object) in such a way. 

  • To perform, bring forth (a magical spell or enchantment). 

  • To twist or warp (of fabric, timber etc.). 

  • To set (a bone etc.) in a cast. 

  • To assign (a role in a play or performance). 

  • To assign a role in a play or performance to (an actor). 

  • To change a variable type from, for example, integer to real, or integer to text. 

character

noun
  • Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; moral strength. 

  • A complex number representing an element of a finite Abelian group. 

  • A being involved in the action of a story. 

  • A person or individual, especially one who is unknown. 

  • Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty. 

  • One of the basic elements making up a text file or string: a code representing a printing character or a control character. 

  • A distinguishing feature; characteristic; trait; phene. 

  • A complex of traits marking a person, group, breed, or type. 

  • A written or printed symbol, or letter. 

  • A unique or extraordinary individual; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits, especially charisma. 

How often have the words cast and character occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )