virtue
/ˈvɜːtjuː/noun
1
- mass noun behaviour showing high moral standards德行：
paragons of virtue.
德行典范。
1.1
- count noun a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person美德：
patience is a virtue.
耐心是一种美德。
1.2
- count noun a good or useful quality of a thing优点, 长处：
Mike was extolling the virtues of the car
迈克在赞美那部汽车的优点
mass noun there's no virtue in suffering in silence.默默地承受痛苦并不是什么优点。
1.3
- mass noun archaic virginity or chastity, especially of a woman〈古〉（尤指妇女的）贞操, 贞洁。
2
virtues
(in traditional Christian angelology) the seventh-highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy（传统基督教天使学）道德天使（天国九级制度的第七级）。
短语
by（或in） virtue of
- because or as a result of因为; 由于。
make a virtue of
- derive benefit or advantage from submitting to (an unwelcome obligation or unavoidable circumstance)将（不乐意的事）变成有利的。
派生词
virtueless
adjective词源
Middle English: from Old French vertu, from Latin virtus 'valour， merit， moral perfection'， from vir 'man'.