n. [ It. virtù virtue, excellence, from L. virtus. See Virtue. ] A love of the fine arts; a taste for curiosities. J. Spence. [ 1913 Webster ]

An article of virtu, or
a piece of virtu,
, an object of art or antiquity; a curiosity, such as those found in museums or private collections. [ 1913 Webster ]

I had thoughts, in my chambers to place it in view,
To be shown to my friends as a piece of virtù. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. virtuel. See Virtue. ] 1. Having the power of acting or of invisible efficacy without the agency of the material or sensible part; potential; energizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heat and cold have a virtual transition, without communication of substance. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every kind that lives,
Fomented by his virtual power, and warmed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Being in essence or effect, not in fact; as, the virtual presence of a man in his agent or substitute. [ 1913 Webster ]

A thing has a virtual existence when it has all the conditions necessary to its actual existence. Fleming. [ 1913 Webster ]

To mask by slight differences in the manners a virtual identity in the substance. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

Principle of virtual velocities (Mech.), the law that when several forces are in equilibrium, the algebraic sum of their virtual moments is equal to zero. --
Virtual focus (Opt.), the point from which rays, having been rendered divergent by reflection of refraction, appear to issue; the point at which converging rays would meet if not reflected or refracted before they reach it. --
Virtual image. (Optics) See under Image. --
Virtual moment (of a force) (Mech.), the product of the intensity of the force multiplied by the virtual velocity of its point of application; -- sometimes called virtual work. --
Virtual velocity (Mech.), a minute hypothetical displacement, assumed in analysis to facilitate the investigation of statical problems. With respect to any given force of a number of forces holding a material system in equilibrium, it is the projection, upon the direction of the force, of a line joining its point of application with a new position of that point indefinitely near to the first, to which the point is conceived to have been moved, without disturbing the equilibrium of the system, or the connections of its parts with each other. Strictly speaking, it is not a velocity but a length. --
Virtual work. (Mech.) See Virtual moment, above. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. virtualité. ] 1. The quality or state of being virtual. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Potentiality; efficacy; potential existence. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In one grain of corn, there lieth dormant a virtuality of many other. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a virtual manner; in efficacy or effect only, and not actually; to all intents and purposes; practically. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make efficacious; to give virtue of efficacy. [ Obs. ] Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. vertu, F. vertu, L. virtus strength, courage, excellence, virtue, fr. vir a man. See Virile, and cf. Virtu. ] 1. Manly strength or courage; bravery; daring; spirit; valor. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Built too strong
For force or virtue ever to expugn. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Active quality or power; capacity or power adequate to the production of a given effect; energy; strength; potency; efficacy; as, the virtue of a medicine. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about. Mark v. 30. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man was driven to depend for his security against misunderstanding, upon the pure virtue of his syntax. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

The virtue of his midnight agony. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Energy or influence operating without contact of the material or sensible substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

She moves the body which she doth possess,
Yet no part toucheth, but by virtue's touch. Sir. J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Excellence; value; merit; meritoriousness; worth. [ 1913 Webster ]

I made virtue of necessity. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the Greek poets, . . . the economy of poems is better observed than in Terence, who thought the sole grace and virtue of their fable the sticking in of sentences. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Specifically, moral excellence; integrity of character; purity of soul; performance of duty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtue only makes our bliss below. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

If there's Power above us,
And that there is all nature cries aloud
Through all her works, he must delight in virtue. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A particular moral excellence; as, the virtue of temperance, of charity, etc. “The very virtue of compassion.” Shak. “Remember all his virtues.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Specifically: Chastity; purity; especially, the chastity of women; virginity. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. pl. One of the orders of the celestial hierarchy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cardinal virtues. See under Cardinal, a. --
In virtue of, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of virtue; without efficacy or operating qualities; powerless. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtueless she wished all herbs and charms. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality or state of being a virtuoso; in a bad sense, the character of one in whom mere artistic feeling or aesthetic cultivation takes the place of religious character; sentimentalism. [ 1913 Webster ]

This famous passage . . . over which the virtuosity of modern times, rejoicing in evil, has hung so fondly. C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Virtuosos, collectively. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An art or study affected by virtuosos. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Virtuosos It. Virtuosi [ It. See Virtuous. ] 1. One devoted to virtu; one skilled in the fine arts, in antiquities, and the like; a collector or ardent admirer of curiosities, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtuoso the Italians call a man who loves the noble arts, and is a critic in them. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) A performer on some instrument, as the violin or the piano, who excels in the technical part of his art; a brilliant concert player. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The condition, pursuits, or occupation of a virtuoso. Bp. Hurd. [ 1913 Webster ]