Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “vertu” come from?

vertu (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman vertu, from Latin virtutem, from Latin virtus, from Latin vir, from Proto-Italic wiros, from Proto-Indo-European wiHrós, from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- — to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute.

vertu (Middle English): An ability, specialty, or feature; Power,...

Definitions

  1. An ability, specialty, or feature; Power,...

Ancestry of “vertu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Anglo-Normanvertuvalour; honour; goodness; virtue
2Latinvirtutemaccusative singular of virtūs; virtue
3Latinvirtusmanhood, manliness, virility; courage,...
4Latinvirman in the sense of "adult male human"; adult,...
5Proto-Italicwirosa man
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
7Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute

Words derived from “vertu”

  • virtue
  • virtueless
  • unvirtue
  • virtuecrat
  • virto
  • virtue
  • vertulees
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- →