virtuous

[vur-choo-uh s]

See more synonyms for virtuous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life.
chaste: a virtuous young person.

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 virtuousness

dignity, righteousness, right, probity, merit, prerogative, uprightness, value, class, ideal, excellence, virtue, goodness, straight, rightness, quality, worth, rectitude, morality, virginity

Examples from the Web for virtuousness

Historical Examples of virtuousness

The identification of happiness with virtue, however, necessitates the distinction between active virtue and virtuousness.
The Worlds Greatest Books, Volume XIII.
Various
Virtuousness is a quality of the soul or of action; in the latter sense it is the essence of virtuous action.
English Synonyms and Antonyms
James Champlin Fernald
What is thy opinion as to the virtuousness or otherwise of this state of things?
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2
Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
In short, a thorough belief in her own virtuousness and superior excellence was the key-note of her character.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician
Frederick Niecks

British Dictionary definitions for virtuousness

virtuous

adjective

characterized by or possessing virtue or moral excellence; righteous; upright
(of women) chaste or virginal

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 virtuousness

virtuous

adj.

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