[ 'və:tju: , -tʃu: ]
■ noun
1》 behaviour showing high moral standards.
↘a quality considered morally good or desirable.
↘a good or useful quality of a thing.
2》 archaic virginity or chastity.
Phrases
by (or in ) ~ of because or as a result of.
make a ~ of derive benefit or advantage from submitting to (something unwelcome).
Derivatives
~less adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. vertu , from L. virtus 'valour, merit, moral perfection', from vir 'man'.