Meaning of VIRTUOUS
| Pronunciation: | | 'vurchoous
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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- [adj] in a state of sexual virginity; "pure and vestal modesty"; "a spinster or virgin lady"; "men have decreed that their women must be pure and virginal"
- [adj] behaving according to standards of what is right or just; "led a virtuous (or moral) life"
- [adj] of moral excellence; "a genuinely good person"; "a just cause"; "an upright and respectable man"; "the life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous"- Frederick Douglass
- [adj] morally excellent
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| | Synonyms: | | chaste, good, impeccable, impeccant, innocent, just, moral, pure, righteous, sinless, upright, vestal, virgin, virginal |
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| | Antonyms: | | wicked | | |
| | See Also: | | pious | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | \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.
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