Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “virtuous” come from?

Virtuous comes from Anglo-Norman vertuous, meaning morally excellent or possessing virtue in conduct and character.

virtuous (English): Full of virtue, having excellent moral character

Definitions

  1. Full of virtue, having excellent moral character

Ancestry of “virtuous”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishvertuousVirtuous; morally correct, righteous or good;...
2Anglo-Normanvertuous—

Words derived from “virtuous”

  • unvirtuous
  • nonvirtuous
  • unvirtuously
  • ultravirtuous
  • unvirtuousness
Every word from Anglo-Norman vertuous →