English Dictionary
Definition of “virtue”
virtue (ˈvɜːtjuː
;-tʃuː)
Definitions
noun
- the quality or practice of moral excellence or righteousness
- a particular moral excellence ⇒
the virtue of tolerance
- any of the cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) or theological virtues (faith, hope, and charity)
- any admirable quality, feature, or trait
- chastity, esp in women
- archaic an effective, active, or inherent power or force
- See by virtue of
- See make a virtue of necessity
Alternative Forms
ˈvirtueless adjective Word Origin
C13: vertu, from Old French, from Latin virtūs manliness, courage, from vir man
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
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goodness,
honour,
integrity,
worth,
dignity,
excellence,
morality,
honesty,
decency,
respectability,
nobility,
righteousness,
propriety,
probity,
rectitude,
worthiness,
high-mindedness,
incorruptibility,
uprightness,
virtuousness,
ethicalness,
Quotations
"Virtue is the fount whence honour springs"
Christopher Marlowe"Virtue is its own reward"
Cicero"Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set"
Francis Bacon"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies"
Bible: Proverbs"For 'tis some virtue, virtue to commend"
William Congreve"Virtue could see to do what Virtue wouldBy her own radiant light, though sun and moonWere in the flat sea sunk"
John Milton"Against the threatsOf malice or of sorcery, or that powerWhich erring men call chance, this I hold firm,Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt,Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled"
John Milton"It is queer how it is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster"
Rebecca West"The weakest of all weak things is a virtue which has not been tested in the fire"
Mark Twain"I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race, where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat... that which purifies us is trial, and trial is by what is contrary"
John Milton
Usage examples
Why, even at her ripe age, when she had learned the difficult virtue.
Appiganesi, Lisa, Dreams of Innocence (1994)The Guardian accused Microsoft of'making a virtue out of a necessity' (7).
Spiked (2003)Far from a virtue , runaway productivity growth may be the U. S. economy's greatest vice.
Globe and Mail (2003)Indeed, this second man was looked upon as the very model of Victorian virtue , piety and rectitude.
Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)
