◙ noun 1. [mass noun] behaviour showing high moral standards • 德行 »paragons of virtue. 德行典范。 [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。 [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。 [mass noun] (archaic)virginity or chastity, especially of a woman • [古] （尤指妇女）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）
【IDIOMS】
◘ by [或in] virtue of 1. because or as a result of • 因为；由于 ◘ make a virtue of 1. 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】
♦ virtueless adjective
【语源】
1. Middle English: from Old French vertu, from Latin virtus 'valour, merit, moral perfection', from vir 'man'