virtu

American  

[ver-too, vur-too] / vərˈtu, ˈvɜr tu /

Or vertu

noun

1. excellence or merit in objects of art, curios, and the like.

2. (used with a plural verb) such objects or articles collectively.

3. a taste for or knowledge of such objects.

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virtu British  

/ vɜːˈtuː /

noun

1. a taste or love for curios or works of fine art; connoisseurship

2. such objects collectively

3. the quality of being rare, beautiful, or otherwise appealing to a connoisseur (esp in the phrases articles of virtu; objects of virtu )

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Etymology

Origin of virtu

First recorded in 1715–25; from Italian virtù, vertù “worth, maleness, strength”; see virtue

Example Sentences

For example, Machiavelli appears and discusses his philosophical concept of "virtu" – the qualities needed to be a leader – with the hero Ezio.

From The Guardian • Mar. 15, 2011

New foreign investment virtu ally was halted for months following the disorders.

From Time Magazine Archive

Courting private cap ital, the new regime has returned virtu ally all foreign properties seized by Sukarno, promised tax holidays and easy repatriation of profits to all newcomers.

From Time Magazine Archive

By borrowing a U.S. en gineering technique of offering clients "total package deals," Bufete has virtu ally cornered the Mexican engineering market while taking a lot of business away from U.S. competitors.

From Time Magazine Archive

The marble mantels were decorated with articles of virtu, and rare painting adorned the walls.

From Perley's Reminiscences, v. 1-2 of Sixty Years in the National Metropolis by Poore, Benjamin Perley