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virtue definition

vir·tue (vʉr′c̸ho̵̅o̅)

noun

  1. general moral excellence; right action and thinking; goodness or morality
  2. a specific moral quality regarded as good or meritorious
  3. chastity, esp. in a woman
    1. excellence in general; merit the virtue in planning ahead
    2. a good quality or feature the virtues of teaching as a profession
  5. effective power or force; efficacy; esp., the ability to heal or strengthen the virtue of a medicine
  6. Now Rare manly quality; strength, courage, etc.

Etymology: ME vertue < OFr vertu, virtue, goodness, power < L virtus, manliness, worth < vir, man: see werewolf

virtue Idioms

by virtue of

or in virtue of
because of; on the grounds of

make a virtue of necessity

to accept with an agreeable or positive attitude that which must be accepted anyway

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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