Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

virtuous

[vur-choo-uh s]
See more synonyms for virtuous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life.
  2. chaste: a virtuous young person.
Show More

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

Examples from the Web for virtuously

Historical Examples

  • 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
Show More
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).

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper