cardinal virtue

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noun

anything considered to be an important or characteristic virtue: Tenacity is his cardinal virtue.

cardinal virtues, Ancient Philosophy. justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude.

Origin of cardinal virtue

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for cardinal virtues

cardinal virtues

pl n

the most important moral qualities, traditionally justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012