Virtuous

Virtuous
Virtuous Vir"tu*ous (?; 135), a. [OE. vertuous, OF. vertuos, vertuous, F. vertueux, fr. L. Virtuous. See {Virtue}, and cf. {Virtuoso}.] 1. Possessing or exhibiting virtue. Specifically: [1913 Webster] (a) Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous; valiant; brave. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Old Priam's son, amongst them all, was chiefly virtuous. --Chapman. [1913 Webster] (b) Having power or efficacy; powerfully operative; efficacious; potent. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Lifting up his virtuous staff on high, He smote the sea, which calm['e]d was with speed. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Every virtuous plant and healing herb. --Milton. [1913 Webster] (c) Having moral excellence; characterized by morality; upright; righteous; pure; as, a virtuous action. [1913 Webster]

The virtuous mind that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, conscience. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Chaste; pure; -- applied especially to women. [1913 Webster]

Mistress Ford . . . the virtuous creature, that hath the jealous fool to her husband. --Shak. [1913 Webster] -- {Vir"tu*ous*ly}, adv. -- {Vir"tu*ous*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • virtuous — index blameless, clean, conscientious, ethical, evenhanded, high minded, incorruptible, inculpable, innocen …   Law dictionary

  • virtuous — (adj.) late 14c., chaste (of women), from VIRTUE (Cf. virtue) + OUS (Cf. ous). Earlier it was used in a sense of valiant, valorous, manly (c.1300) …   Etymology dictionary

  • virtuous — *moral, ethical, righteous, noble Analogous words: pure, *chaste, modest, decent: *upright, just, honorable Antonyms: vicious …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • virtuous — [adj] good, ethical; innocent blameless, celibate, chaste, clean living, effective, effectual, efficient, excellent, exemplary, faithful, guiltless, high principled, honest, honorable, incorruptible, inculpable, in the clear*, irreprehensible,… …   New thesaurus

  • virtuous — ► ADJECTIVE 1) having or showing high moral standards. 2) archaic chaste. DERIVATIVES virtuously adverb virtuousness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • virtuous — [vʉr′cho͞o əs] adj. [ME vertuous < OFr vertuos < LL virtuosus < L virtus, worth, VIRTUE] 1. having, or characterized by, moral virtue; righteous 2. chaste: said of a woman 3. Archaic having potency; efficacious SYN. CHASTE, MORAL… …   English World dictionary

  • virtuous — [[t]vɜ͟ː(r)tʃuəs[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED A virtuous person behaves in a moral and correct way. Louis was shown as an intelligent, courageous and virtuous family man. Syn: good 2) ADJ GRADED If you describe someone as virtuous, you mean that they have… …   English dictionary

  • virtuous — virtuously, adv. virtuousness, n. /verr chooh euhs/, adj. 1. conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life. 2. chaste: a virtuous young person. [1300 50; alter. (with i < L) of ME vertuous < AF < LL… …   Universalium

  • virtuous — vir|tu|ous [ˈvə:tʃuəs US ˈvə:r ] adj 1.) formal behaving in a very honest and moral way ≠ ↑wicked ▪ a virtuous man ▪ Natalie considered herself very virtuous because she neither drank nor smoked. 2.) old use not willing to have sex, at least… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • virtuous — vir|tu|ous [ vɜrtʃuəs ] adjective behaving or done in a way that is morally good and right: She always tried to lead a virtuous life. a. used in a negative way for describing someone who thinks they are morally better than other people: Sam s… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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