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virtuous

[vur-choo-uh s]
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adjective
  1. conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life.
  2. chaste: a virtuous young person.
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Origin of virtuous

1300–50; alteration (with i < Latin) of Middle English vertuous < Anglo-French < Late Latin virtuōsus, equivalent to Latin virtu(s) virtue + -ōsus -ous
Related formsvir·tu·ous·ly, adverbvir·tu·ous·ness, nounnon·vir·tu·ous, adjectivenon·vir·tu·ous·ly, adverbnon·vir·tu·ous·ness, nounqua·si-vir·tu·ous, adjectivequa·si-vir·tu·ous·ly, adverbun·vir·tu·ous, adjectiveun·vir·tu·ous·ly, adverbun·vir·tu·ous·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for virtuously

equally, honorably, rightly, rightfully, reasonably, accurately, duly, properly, honestly, correctly, legally, equitably, legitimately, lawfully, decently, impartially, justly, quietly, simply, plainly

Examples from the Web for virtuously

Historical Examples of virtuously

  • She doesn't like me at all, though I've been virtuously nice to her.

    Jane Journeys On

    Ruth Comfort Mitchell

  • "I won't say I am sorry, because that would be a lie," said Sarah virtuously.

    Rosemary

    Josephine Lawrence

  • "I like to do what's best for folks in the end," declared Mrs. Forbes virtuously.

    Jewel

    Clara Louise Burnham

  • "I have never harboured such an unworthy thought," he said virtuously.

  • "And Hoodie didn't usplain a bit, not one bit," said Duke virtuously.

    Hoodie

    Mary Louisa Stewart Molesworth

British Dictionary definitions for virtuously

virtuous

adjective
  1. characterized by or possessing virtue or moral excellence; righteous; upright
  2. (of women) chaste or virginal
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Derived Formsvirtuously, adverbvirtuousness, noun
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

Word Origin and History for virtuously

virtuous

adj.

late 14c., "chaste" (of women), from virtue + -ous. Earlier it was used in a sense of "valiant, valorous, manly" (c.1300).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper