virtue

 
Pronunciation: /ˈvəːtjuː, -tʃuː/

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'