virtue

virtue
[[t]vɜ͟ː(r)tʃuː[/t]]
virtues
1) N-UNCOUNT Virtue is thinking and doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong.

Virtue is not confined to the Christian world...

She could have established her own innocence and virtue easily enough.

Syn:
Ant:
2) N-COUNT A virtue is a good quality or way of behaving.

His virtue is patience...

Her flaws were as large as her virtues...

Humility is considered a virtue.

3) N-COUNT The virtue of something is an advantage or benefit that it has, especially in comparison with something else.

There was no virtue in returning to Calvi the way I had come...

It's other great virtue, of course, is its hard-wearing quality.

Syn:
4) PHR-PREP You use by virtue of to explain why something happens or is true. [FORMAL]

The article stuck in my mind by virtue of one detail...

Mr Olaechea has British residency by virtue of his marriage.

Syn:
because of
5) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you make a virtue of something, you pretend that you did it because you chose to, although in fact you did it because you had to.

The movie makes a virtue out of its economy.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Virtue — (Latin virtus ; Greek Polytonic|ἀρετή) is moral excellence. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting individual and collective well being, and thus good by definition. The opposite of virtue is vice.Etymologically the word virtue… …   Wikipedia

  • Virtue — • According to its etymology the word virtue (Latin virtus) signifies manliness or courage Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Virtue     Virtue      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Virtue — Vir tue (?; 135), n. [OE. vertu, F. vertu, L. virtus strength, courage, excellence, virtue, fr. vir a man. See {Virile}, and cf. {Virtu}.] 1. Manly strength or courage; bravery; daring; spirit; valor. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] Built too strong… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • virtue — [vʉr′cho͞o] n. [ME vertue < OFr vertu, virtue, goodness, power < L virtus, manliness, worth < vir, man: see WEREWOLF] 1. general moral excellence; right action and thinking; goodness or morality 2. a specific moral quality regarded as… …   English World dictionary

  • virtue — (n.) early 13c., moral life and conduct, moral excellence, vertu, from Anglo French and O.Fr. vertu, from L. virtutem (nom. virtus) moral strength, manliness, valor, excellence, worth, from vir man (see VIRILE (Cf. virile)). For my part I honour… …   Etymology dictionary

  • virtue — ► NOUN 1) behaviour showing high moral standards. 2) a morally good or desirable quality. 3) a good or useful quality of a thing. 4) archaic virginity or chastity. ● by virtue of Cf. ↑by virtue of …   English terms dictionary

  • virtue of — ▪ Through the power, force, or efficacy of ▪ Because of ▪ On account of ● virtue …   Useful english dictionary

  • virtue — index caliber (quality), ethics, honesty, honor (good reputation), integrity, merit, probity …   Law dictionary

  • virtue — 1 *goodness, morality, rectitude Analogous words: honor, *honesty, integrity, probity: *fidelity, piety, fealty, loyalty: righteousness, nobility, virtuousness (see corresponding adjectives at MORAL) Antonyms: vice 2 * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • virtue — [n] honor, integrity advantage, asset, character, charity, chastity, consideration, credit, ethic, ethicality, ethicalness, excellence, faith, faithfulness, fineness, fortitude, generosity, goodness, good point*, high mindedness, hope, ideal,… …   New thesaurus

  • virtue — 01. Humility is considered an important [virtue] in many Far Eastern cultures. 02. Her religious beliefs have always been the principal force guiding her [virtuous] behavior. 03. It is important for the children to learn the [virtue] of hard work …   Grammatical examples in English

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