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virtue

/ˈvɜːt͡ʃuː/ (Received-Pronunciation)/ˈvɜːtjuː/ (Received-Pronunciation)/ˈvɝt͡ʃu/ (General-American)syllables: vir·tue
  • noun
  • from Anglo-Norman

The idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human traits known as "the virtues", the enumeration of which vary by the many virtue systems which have developed within different cultures, religions, and historical periods.

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “virtue” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

noun

  1. uncountableThe idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human traits known as "the virtues", the enumeration of which vary by the many virtue systems which have developed within different cultures, religions, and historical periods.
  2. uncountableAccordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.

    Without virtue, there is no freedom.

  3. countableAn attribute of a personality (a "personality trait") which predisposes a person to behaviors resulting in human goodness; an admirable quality.

    The commission of acts by a person which he or she believes to be wrong can cause a diminishment of one or more of the virtues which subsist in the person's personality; in this way such actions may be viewed as significant life events.

  4. countableuncountableA particular manifestation of moral excellence in a person.
  5. countableuncountableSpecifically, 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.

    Better to be excluded from society than to deny the virtue of citizenship.

  6. countableuncountableAn inherently advantageous or excellent quality of something or someone; a favourable point, an advantage.

    There were divers other plants, which I had no notion of or understanding about, that might, perhaps, have virtues of their own, which I could not find out.1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:

  7. countableuncountableA creature embodying divine power, specifically one of the orders of heavenly beings, traditionally ranked above angels and archangels, and below seraphim and cherubim.

    Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; / For in possession such, not only of right, / I call ye, and declare ye now […].1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Te

  8. uncountableSpecifically, moral conduct in sexual behaviour, especially of women; chastity.

    though she did not suppose Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement without the intention of marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey.1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice:

  9. countableuncountableThe inherent power or efficacy of something (now only in phrases).

    There was a virtue in the wave; His limbs, that, stiff with toil, Dragg’d heavy, from the copious draught receiv’d Lightness and supple strength.1801, Robert Southey, “(please specify the page)”, in Thalaba the Destroyer, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] [F]or T[homas] N[orton] Longman and O[wen] Rees, […], by Biggs and Cottle, […], →OCLC:

Older & obsolete senses (1)
  1. countableobsoleteuncountableThe inherent power of a god, or other supernatural being.
Wiktionary: “virtue” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (4)
  1. nounthe quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong — also: virtuousness, moral excellence
  2. nounany admirable quality or attribute — also: merit
  3. nounmorality with respect to sexual relations — also: chastity, sexual morality
  4. nouna particular moral excellence
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

Synonyms: douth, thew, goodness

Antonyms: vice, foible

Wiktionary: “virtue” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)virtue
  2. Middle Englishvertu
  3. Anglo-Normanvertu
  4. Latinvirtus “manliness, bravery, worth, moral excellence”
  5. Latinvir “man”

From Middle English vertu, virtue, borrowed from Anglo-Norman vertu, virtu, from Latin virtus (“manliness, bravery, worth, moral excellence”), from vir (“man”). Doublet of vertu. See virile. In this sense, displaced Old English cræft, whence Modern English craft.

Wiktionary: “virtue” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “virtue”

nonvirtuepseudovirtueunvirtuevirtuecratvirtuedvirtuelessvirtue-signalingvirtue-signallingvirtuous

Phrases & compounds

by virtue ofin virtue ofcardinal virtuedormitive virtuein virtue of whichlady of light virtuemake a virtue of necessitypatience is a virtuevirtue ethicistvirtue ethicsvirtue is its own rewardvirtue namevirtue signalvirtue signalervirtue signalingvirtue signallervirtue signallingwoman of easy virtue

Related terms

viragovirilevirtualvirtuosavirtuosityvirtuosovirtuousaretaicparagon
Wiktionary: “virtue” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “virtue” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “virtue” came from before it was English.

Came into English from
Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman vertu
Oldest written form
Latin
Latin vir “man”
Wiktionary: “virtue” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Latin
“man”
Latin vir
Wiktionary: “virtue” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

virtue 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.
  2. Active quality or power; capacity or power adequate to the production of a given effect; energy; strength; potency; efficacy; as, the virtue of a medicine.
  3. Energy or influence operating without contact of the material or sensible substance.
  4. Excellence; value; merit; meritoriousness; worth.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

nounMeaning: Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.

Without virtue, there is no freedom.

There are a set of religious, or rather moral, writers, who teach that virtue is the certain road to happiness, and vice to misery, in this world.1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 1, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book XV:

nounMeaning: An attribute of a personality (a "personality trait") which predisposes a person to behaviors resulting in human goodness; an admirable quality.

The commission of acts by a person which he or she believes to be wrong can cause a diminishment of one or more of the virtues which subsist in the person's personality; in this way such actions may be viewed as significant life events.

Some men are modest, and seem to take pains to hide their virtues; and, from a natural distance and reserve in their tempers, scarce suffer their good qualities to be known […].1766, Laurence Sterne, Sermon, section XLIV:

nounMeaning: 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.

Better to be excluded from society than to deny the virtue of citizenship.

The divine virtues of truth and equity are the only bands of friendship, the only supports of society.1813, John Fleetwood, The Life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:

nounMeaning: An inherently advantageous or excellent quality of something or someone; a favourable point, an advantage.

There were divers other plants, which I had no notion of or understanding about, that might, perhaps, have virtues of their own, which I could not find out.1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:

One virtue of the present coalition government's attack on access to education could be to reopen the questions raised so pertinently by Robinson in the 1960s […].2011, The Guardian, Letter, 14 Mar 2011:

nounMeaning: A creature embodying divine power, specifically one of the orders of heavenly beings, traditionally ranked above angels and archangels, and below seraphim and cherubim.

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; / For in possession such, not only of right, / I call ye, and declare ye now […].1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Te

nounMeaning: Specifically, moral conduct in sexual behaviour, especially of women; chastity.

though she did not suppose Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement without the intention of marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey.1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice:

Wiktionary: “virtue” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 10

Say it, then spell it

virtue

/ˈvɜːt͡ʃuː/ · vir·tue

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

virtue

/ˈvɜːt͡ʃuː/ · vir·tue · noun

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “virtue” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (noun) The idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human traits known as "the virtues", the enumeration of which vary by the many virtue systems which have developed within different cultures, religions, and historical periods.
2. (noun) Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.
3. (noun) An attribute of a personality (a "personality trait") which predisposes a person to behaviors resulting in human goodness; an admirable quality.
4. (noun) A particular manifestation of moral excellence in a person.
5. (noun) 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.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

“Without virtue, there is no freedom.”

A. 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.
B. The idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human traits known as "the virtues", the enumeration of which vary by the many virtue systems which have developed within different cultures, religions, and historical periods.
C. Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.

Circle the meaning used.

“The commission of acts by a person which he or she believes to be wrong can cause a diminishment of one or more of the virtues which subsist in the person's personality; in this way such actions may be viewed as significant life events.”

A. A particular manifestation of moral excellence in a person.
B. An attribute of a personality (a "personality trait") which predisposes a person to behaviors resulting in human goodness; an admirable quality.
C. A creature embodying divine power, specifically one of the orders of heavenly beings, traditionally ranked above angels and archangels, and below seraphim and cherubim.

Circle the meaning used.

“Better to be excluded from society than to deny the virtue of citizenship.”

A. The idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human traits known as "the virtues", the enumeration of which vary by the many virtue systems which have developed within different cultures, religions, and historical periods.
B. A particular manifestation of moral excellence in a person.
C. 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.

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “virtue” come into English from?   A. Anglo-Norman  B. Late Latin  C. French  D. Middle French

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “virtue” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

The earliest traceable form is Latin vir. What did it mean?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “virtue” to mean: The idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human traits known as "the virtues", the enumeration of which vary by the many virtue systems which have developed within different cultures, religions, and historical periods.
Write a sentence using “virtue” to mean: Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.
Write a sentence using “virtue” to mean: An attribute of a personality (a "personality trait") which predisposes a person to behaviors resulting in human goodness; an admirable quality.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — virtue

Which meaning, sentence 1: C. Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.

Which meaning, sentence 2: B. An attribute of a personality (a "personality trait") which predisposes a person to behaviors resulting in human goodness; an admirable quality.

Which meaning, sentence 3: C. 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.

Origin: A. Anglo-Norman (Anglo-Norman vertu)

Journey: English virtue ← Middle English vertu ← Anglo-Norman vertu ← Latin virtus ← Latin vir

Some derivatives: nonvirtue, pseudovirtue, unvirtue, virtuecrat, virtued, virtueless, virtue-signaling, virtue-signalling

Original meaning: Latin vir — “man”

Etymology: From Middle English vertu, virtue, borrowed from Anglo-Norman vertu, virtu, from Latin virtus (“manliness, bravery, worth, moral excellence”), from vir (“man”). Doublet of vertu. See virile. In this sense, displaced Old English cræft, whence Modern English craft.

Sources: Wiktionary “virtue” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/virtue#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/virtue