/ ˈvɜːtʃuəs; NAmE ˈvɜːrtʃ-/ adjective
1.
( formal ) behaving in a very good and moral way
SYN irreproachable :
a wise and virtuous man
She lived an entirely virtuous life.
2.
( disapproving or humorous ) claiming to behave better or have higher moral standards than other people :
He was feeling virtuous because he had finished and they hadn't.
► vir·tu·ous·ly adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French vertuous , from late Latin virtuosus , from virtus virtue.