Lewis & Short

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virtūs, ūtis (gen. plur. virtutium, App. Mag. 73; Paul. Nol. Carm. 10, 34; dat. and abl. VIRTVTEI, Inscr. Corp. Lat. 1, 30 and 34), f. [vir], manliness, manhood, i. e. the sum of all the corporeal or mental excellences of man, strength, vigor; bravery, courage; aptness, capacity; worth, excellence, virtue, etc.: virtus clara aeternaque habetur, Sall. C. 1, 4: ni virtus fidesque vostra spectata mihi forent, id. ib. 20, 2; id. J. 74, 1.

  1. I. In gen.
    1. A. Lit.: ita fiet, ut animi virtus corporis virtuti anteponatur, Cic. Fin. 5, 13, 38: his virtutibus ornatus, modestiā, temperantiā, justitiā, id. Off. 1, 15, 46; cf.: virtutes continentiae, gravitatis, justitiae, fidei, id. Mur. 10, 23: virtus atque integritas, id. Font. 13, 29: oratoris vis divina virtusque, id. de Or. 2, 27, 120.
    2. B. Transf., of animals, and of inanimate or abstract things, goodness, worth, value, power, strength, etc.: nam nec arboris, nec equi virtus (in quo abutimur nomine) in opinione sita est, sed in naturā, Cic. Leg. 1, 16, 45: praedium-solo bono, suā virtute valeat, Cato, R. R. 1, 2: merci pretium statui, pro virtute ut veneat, Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 131: navium, Liv. 37, 24, 1: ferri, Just. 11, 13, 11: herbarum, Ov. M. 14, 357: oratoriae virtutes, Cic. Brut. 17, 65: oratio habet virtutes tres, Quint. 1, 5, 1: dicendi (opp. vitium), id. 8, praef. § 17: facundiae, id. 12, 3, 9.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. In the phrase deūm virtute, usu. with dicam, by the aid or merit of the gods, i. e. the gods be thanked (anteclass), Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 65: virtute deūm et majorum nostrūm, id. Aul. 2, 1, 44; id. Capt. 2, 2, 71 dub.; cf. id. Mil. 3, 1, 85 and 90; so virtute eorum (i. e. majorum), id. Trin. 3, 2, 17.
    2. B. Moral perfection, virtuousness, virtue.
      1. 1. Lit.: est autem virtus nihil aliud quam in se perfecta et ad summum perducta natura, Cic. Leg. 1, 8, 25: virtus est animi habitus naturae modo rationi consentaneus, id. Inv. 2, 53, 159: cum omnes rectae animi affectiones virtutes appellentur … Appellata est ex viro virtus, etc., id. Tusc. 2, 18, 43; id. Inv. 2, 53, 159: nec vero habere virtutem satis est quasi artem aliquam, nisi utare … virtus in usu sui tota posita est, id. Rep. 1, 2, 2: est in eo virtus et probitas et summum officium summaque observantia, id. Fam. 13, 28, a, 2.
      2. 2. Transf., Virtue, personified as a deity, Cic. N. D. 2, 23, 61; 2, 31, 79; id. Leg. 2, 8, 19; 2, 11, 28; id. Phil. 14, 13, 34; Plaut. Am. prol. 42; Liv. 27, 25, 7; 29, 11, 13; Juv. 1, 115 al.
    3. C. Military talents, courage, valor, bravery, gallantry, fortitude (syn. fortitudo), etc.: Helvetii reliquos Gallos virtute praecedunt, quod fere cottidianis proeliis cum Germanis contendunt, Caes. B. G. 1, 1; cf. id. ib. 1, 2; 1, 13: militum, Sall. J. 52, 6; 62, 1: Claudi virtute Neronis Armenius cecidit, Hor. Ep. 1, 12, 26: Scipiadae, id. S. 2, 1, 72; cf. id. Epod. 9, 26; 16, 5; id. C. 2, 7, 11.
    4. D. Obstinacy: iniqua, Stat. Th. 11, 1.