Adjacent Words

Virtuousness definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

VIR'TUOUSNESS, n. The state or character of being virtuous.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong [syn: virtue, virtuousness, moral excellence]

Merriam Webster's

noun see virtuous

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Virtuous Vir"tu*ous (?; 135), a. [OE. vertuous, OF. vertuos, vertuous, F. vertueux, fr. L. Virtuous. See Virtue, and cf. Virtuoso.] 1. Possessing or exhibiting virtue. Specifically: (a) Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous; valiant; brave. [Obs.] Old Priam's son, amongst them all, was chiefly virtuous. --Chapman. (b) Having power or efficacy; powerfully operative; efficacious; potent. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Lifting up his virtuous staff on high, He smote the sea, which calm['e]d was with speed. --Spenser. Every virtuous plant and healing herb. --Milton. (c) Having moral excellence; characterized by morality; upright; righteous; pure; as, a virtuous action. The virtuous mind that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, conscience. --Milton. 2. Chaste; pure; -- applied especially to women. Mistress Ford . . . the virtuous creature, that hath the jealous fool to her husband. --Shak. -- Vir"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- Vir"tu*ous*ness, n.