virtue

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: vertue, virtu, virtus

Antonyms: vertue, virtu, virtus

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. {{tea room sense|en|m=June|y=2026}} {{lb|en|uncountable|conceptually}} The [[idea]] of all that is [[good]] or [[excellent]] (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, [[collectively]] [[instantiate|instantiated]] by a varying number of human [[traits]] known as "the virtues", the enumeration of which vary by the many virtue [[system]]s which have developed within different [[culture]]s, [[religion]]s, and [[historical]] [[period]]s.
2. {{lb|en|uncountable}} Accordance with [[moral]] [[principle|principles]]; [[conformity]] of [[behaviour]] or thought with the strictures of [[morality]]; good moral conduct. {{defdate|from 13th c.}}
3. {{lb|en|countable}} An [[attribute]] of a [[personality]] (a "personality [[trait]]") which [[predispose]]s a [[person]] to [[behavior]]s resulting in [[human]] [[goodness]]; an admirable [[quality]].
4. A particular [[manifestation]] of moral [[excellence]] in a person. {{defdate|from 13th c.}}
5. Specifically, each of several qualities held to be particularly important, including the four [[cardinal virtues]], the three [[theological virtues]], or the seven virtues opposed to the seven deadly sins. {{defdate|from 14th c.}}
6. An [[inherently]] [[advantageous]] or excellent [[quality]] of something or someone; a favourable point, an [[advantage]]. {{defdate|from 14th c.}}
7. {{lb|en|Christianity}} A creature embodying divine power, specifically one of the [[order]]s of heavenly beings, traditionally ranked above angels and [[archangel]]s, and below [[seraph|seraphim]] and [[cherub|cherubim]]. {{defdate|from 14th c.}}
8. {{lb|en|uncountable}} Specifically, moral conduct in [[sexual]] behaviour, especially of women; [[chastity]]. {{defdate|from 17th c.}}
9. {{lb|en|obsolete}} The inherent [[power]] of a [[god]], or other supernatural being. {{defdate|13th–19th c.}}
10. The inherent [[power]] or [[efficacy]] of something {{qualifier|now only in phrases}}. {{defdate|from 13th c.}}

Proper noun

1. {{surname|en}}.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.