ethic

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɛθɪk/

noun

[in singular]
  • a set of moral principles, especially ones relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct: the puritan ethic was being replaced by the hedonist ethic

adjective

rare
  • relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these: the ethic question is of wider import

Origin:

late Middle English (denoting ethics or moral philosophy; also used attributively): from Old French éthique, from Latin ethice, from Greek (hē) ēthikē (tekhnē) '(the science of) morals', based on ēthos (see ethos)