n. 1 moral excellence; uprightness, goodness. 2 a particular form of this (patience is a virtue). 3 chastity, esp. of a woman. 4 a good quality (has the virtue of being adjustable). 5 efficacy; inherent power (no virtue in such drugs). 6 an angelic being of the seventh order of the celestial hierarchy (see ORDER n. 19). by (or in) virtue of on the strength or ground of (got the job by virtue of his experience). make a virtue of necessity derive some credit or benefit from an unwelcome obligation. virtueless adj.
[ ME f. OF vertu f. L virtus -tutis f. vir man ]