virtue

Definitions

From Latin virtūs, literally 'manliness' (vir = man). To a Roman, manliness meant courage and excellence of character, so virtūs rose from 'valor' to 'moral excellence,' then to 'any good quality,' and even to 'effective power' — the strength inside a thing. English virtue keeps all three: moral goodness, a good point, and the power sense frozen in 'by virtue of.'

Why It Means This

Why does 'virtue' (goodness) share a word with 'by virtue of' (because of)? Because Latin virtūs meant the power packed inside something — first a man's courage, later the 'power' of anything to produce an effect. Moral goodness and effective force were the same idea: inner strength. 'By virtue of X' literally means 'by the power of X.'

Common Collocations

• 1.moral virtue道德品质
• 2.by virtue of凭借，由于
• 3.a virtue of necessity把无奈说成美德
• 4.cardinal virtues基本美德
• 5.patience is a virtue耐心是一种美德

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Honesty is a virtue that people respect in any culture.

• 2.

  The main virtue of this approach is that it saves time.

• 3.

  She got the job by virtue of her years of experience.

• 4.

  Patience is a virtue, especially when teaching children.

Synonym Comparison