5. Specifically, moral excellence; integrity of character; purity of soul; performance of duty.
Virtue only makes our bliss below.
Pope.
If there's Power above us,
And that there is all nature cries aloud
Through all her works, he must delight
in virtue.
Addison. 6. A particular moral excellence; as, the virtue of temperance, of charity, etc. "The very virtue of compassion."
Shak. "Remember all his virtues." Addison.
7. Specifically: Chastity; purity; especially, the chastity of women; virginity.
H. I believe the girl has virtue.
M. And if she has, I should be the last man in the world to attempt to
corrupt it.
Goldsmith. 8. pl. One of the orders of the celestial hierarchy.
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers.
Milton. Cardinal virtues.
See under Cardinal, a. — In, or By, virtue of, through the force of; by authority
of. "He used to travel through Greece by virtue of this fable, which procured him reception in all the
towns." Addison. "This they shall attain, partly in virtue of the promise made by God, and partly in
virtue of piety." Atterbury. — Theological virtues, the three virtues, faith, hope, and charity. See 1
Cor. xiii. 13.