(1)品格高尚，正直善良 (goodness of character;moral excellence)[U]：a paragon of～一个尽善尽美的典型;lead a life of～过着积德行善的生活;He is a person/a man of great/the highest～. 他是一个道德高尚的人。Didn't Emerson say“V～is its own reward”?爱默生不是讲过“有德便是好报”吗?〖同〗goodness，uprightness，honour，honesty，integrity;〖反〗vice，wickedness，evil，sinfulness，dishonour;

(2)美德(优良品质)(particular moral excellence)[C]：cardinal/natural/theological～s基本/天然/神学上的美德;extol/praise the～s of thrift 颂扬/赞美节约的优良品德;Honesty/Truthfulness/Loyalty/Courage/Patience is but one of his～s. 诚实/率真/忠诚/勇敢/耐心只是他的优秀品质之一。〖同〗strength，principle;〖反〗weakness，failing，fault;

(3)优越性，长处(优点)(advantage)[C， U， the～][N(of)]：learn the～of keeping one's mouth shut 学习守口如瓶的优点;have the～of being adjustable/easy to clean有可调节/易于打扫的优点;The great～of air travel is speed. 空中旅行的巨大优越性就是速度快。One of the～s of this material is its hard-wearing nature. 这种材料的一个优点是其耐磨性。There is no～in waiting here for him any longer. 在这里继续等他没有用处。〖同〗benefit，advantage，value，reward;〖反〗disadvantage;

(4)(药物)效果(effectiveness;power)[U， C]：There is little～in that medicine. 那种药没什么效力。(people)doubt the～of ancient country medicines in curing the sick (人们)怀疑古代乡间药物治病的药效;

(5)贞操(chastity， esp of a woman)[U](fml)：lose/preserve one's～失去/保持贞操;The queen's～is unquestioned. 女王的贞操是毫无疑问的。She escaped from his clutches with her～intact. 她免遭他的毒手，保住了自己的贞操。〖同〗innocence，modesty;

by/in virtue of (fml)由于：By～of his high rank and position， the President takes social leadership almost over everyone else. 凭借显赫的地位和职位，总统在社会上几乎可以领导任何人。It was only by～of his indomitable will-power that he finally succeeded. 完全由于他不屈不挠的坚强意志，他才最后获得了成功。

make a virtue of necessity 把非做不可的事装成出于好心才做：New jobs aren't easy to get just now . You'll have to make a～of necessity and go on doing the job you've got. 眼下工作不易找到，你要心甘情愿地继续做你手里现有的工作。

→′virtuous adj 有道德的;′virtuously adv 正直地;′virtuousness n 有道德;

【辨异】virtue与goodness和morality的区别见GOODNESS。