Font display and text editing system with character overlay feature

A font display and text editing system, comprising:

• a display device which is logically broken into a plurality of character spaces;
• a memory storing digital information describing the shape of each alpha-numeric character of a set of alpha-numeric characters and each diacritical character of a set of diacritical characters;
• human actuable input means for generating a first signal identifying any one of said alpha-numeric and diacritical characters as a base character and a second signal identifying any one of said alpha-numeric and diacritical characters as an overlay character;
• and
• hit mapped memory means responsive to said first and second signals for combining said first and second signals in a manner which causes said base and overlay characters to be displayed as a single complex character in a single said character space of said display device.