Virtuous — 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: [1913 Webster] (a) Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
virtuous — (adj.) late 14c., chaste (of women), from VIRTUE (Cf. virtue) + OUS (Cf. ous). Earlier it was used in a sense of valiant, valorous, manly (c.1300) … Etymology dictionary
virtuous — *moral, ethical, righteous, noble Analogous words: pure, *chaste, modest, decent: *upright, just, honorable Antonyms: vicious … New Dictionary of Synonyms
virtuous — [adj] good, ethical; innocent blameless, celibate, chaste, clean living, effective, effectual, efficient, excellent, exemplary, faithful, guiltless, high principled, honest, honorable, incorruptible, inculpable, in the clear*, irreprehensible,… … New thesaurus
virtuous — ► ADJECTIVE 1) having or showing high moral standards. 2) archaic chaste. DERIVATIVES virtuously adverb virtuousness noun … English terms dictionary
virtuous — [vʉr′cho͞o əs] adj. [ME vertuous < OFr vertuos < LL virtuosus < L virtus, worth, VIRTUE] 1. having, or characterized by, moral virtue; righteous 2. chaste: said of a woman 3. Archaic having potency; efficacious SYN. CHASTE, MORAL… … English World dictionary
virtuous — [[t]vɜ͟ː(r)tʃuəs[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED A virtuous person behaves in a moral and correct way. Louis was shown as an intelligent, courageous and virtuous family man. Syn: good 2) ADJ GRADED If you describe someone as virtuous, you mean that they have… … English dictionary
virtuous — virtuously, adv. virtuousness, n. /verr chooh euhs/, adj. 1. conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life. 2. chaste: a virtuous young person. [1300 50; alter. (with i < L) of ME vertuous < AF < LL… … Universalium
virtuous — vir|tu|ous [ˈvə:tʃuəs US ˈvə:r ] adj 1.) formal behaving in a very honest and moral way ≠ ↑wicked ▪ a virtuous man ▪ Natalie considered herself very virtuous because she neither drank nor smoked. 2.) old use not willing to have sex, at least… … Dictionary of contemporary English
virtuous — vir|tu|ous [ vɜrtʃuəs ] adjective behaving or done in a way that is morally good and right: She always tried to lead a virtuous life. a. used in a negative way for describing someone who thinks they are morally better than other people: Sam s… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English