virtue English · revision 14918

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1225|origins=la vir}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈvɜː.tʃuː/, /ˈvɜː.tjuː/, US /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|vertu]], [[bor|xno|vertu]] and [[fro|vertu|t=force, strength, moral strength]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|virtūs|t=moral strength, manliness, valour, excellence]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|vir|t=man]] (see [[virile]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*wi-ro-|t=man]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Moral excellence, uprightness of life: probably before 1200 in Barnhart, about 1200 in Etymonline, before 1225 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''By virtue of'', probably also from before 1200, first meant by the power or efficacy of something,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and keeps a Middle English sense of inherent power; the Wycliffe Bible has virtue where the King James Version has power.^(Etymonline) The power of a divine being is from about 1250, and one of the orders of angels from before 1300.^(OED 1989) Superiority or unusual ability is from about 1384, and a particular power or good quality from before 1387.^(Barnhart 1988) Chastity, especially in women, is from the 1590s;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''of easy virtue'' describes a woman of loose morals.^(OED 1989) An obsolete sense was valour.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * probably before 1200 – moral excellence; by virtue of.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1250 – divine power.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1384 – superiority, ability.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1387 – an inherent power or quality.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1599 – chastity.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Moral excellence and righteousness; goodness.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A particular moral excellence: ''the virtue of tolerance''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any of the [[cardinal virtue|alt=cardinal virtues]] (prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance) or the theological virtues (faith, hope, charity).^(Collins 2023)

+ # An admirable or useful quality; an advantage.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[chastity|alt=Chastity]], especially in women.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' An effective or inherent power or force.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[virtueless]]

+ * [[virtuelessness]]

+ * [[nonvirtue]]

+ * [[virtuous]]

+ * [[cardinal virtue]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[virago]]

+ * [[virile]]

+ * [[virtual]]

+ * [[virtuosity]]

+ * [[virtuosa]]

+ * [[virtuoso]]

+ * [[werewolf]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}