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virtue

Pronunciation: /ˈvəːtjuː, -tʃuː/
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Definition of virtue

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] behaviour showing high moral standards:paragons of virtue
  • [count noun] a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person:patience is a virtue
  • [count noun] a good or useful quality of a thing:Mike was extolling the virtues of the car [mass noun]:there’s no virtue in suffering in silence
  • [mass noun] archaic virginity or chastity, especially of a woman.
  • 2 (virtues) (in traditional Christian angelology) the seventh-highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.

Phrases

by (or in) virtue of

because or as a result of: they achieved pre-eminence by virtue of superior military strength in virtue of his position he was impartial

make a virtue of

derive benefit or advantage from submitting to (an unwelcome obligation or unavoidable circumstance).

Derivatives

virtueless

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French vertu, from Latin virtus 'valour, merit, moral perfection', from vir 'man'

virtue in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of virtue in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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