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virtuous - 4 dictionary results

vir⋅tu⋅ous

  [vur-choo-uhs]
Use virtuous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life.
2. chaste: a virtuous young person.
Origin:
1300–50; alter. (with i < L) of ME vertuous < AF < LL virtuōsus, equiv. to L virtu(s) virtue + -ōsus -ous

Related forms:
vir⋅tu⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
vir⋅tu⋅ous⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To virtuous
vir·tu·ous   (vûr'chōō-əs)   
adj.  
  1. Having or showing virtue, especially moral excellence: led a virtuous life.
  2. Possessing or characterized by chastity; pure: a virtuous woman. See Synonyms at moral.
vir'tu·ous·ly adv., vir'tu·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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: (a) Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous; valiant; brave. [Obs.]

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

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

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

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

2. Chaste; pure; -- applied especially to women.

Mistress Ford . . . the virtuous creature, that hath the jealous fool to her husband. --Shak. -- Vir"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- Vir"tu*ous*ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : virtuous
Spanish: virtuoso; (peyorativo) santurrón,
German: tugendhaft,
Japanese: 徳のある
More Translations »

virtuous 
c.1386, "chaste" (of women), from virtue (q.v.). Earlier it was used in a sense of "valiant, valorous, manly" (c.1300).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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