virtue

merit, virtue, perfection

这些名词均可表示“优点、长处”之意。
merit: 指有值得赞扬的优点，但不一定是出类拔萃。
virtue: 指人或物的优点长处，或指人的美德。
perfection: 指达到了理想或完美的程度。

名词 virtue:

1. the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
   同义词：virtuousness, moral excellence
2. any admirable quality or attribute
   同义词：merit
3. morality with respect to sexual relations
   同义词：chastity, sexual morality
4. a particular moral excellence

1. Virtue is fairer far than beauty.
   [谚]美德远胜于美貌。
2. She is a paragon of virtue.
   她是美德的典范。
3. Meekness is a virtue he appreciates in his wife.
   温顺是他所欣赏的妻子的优点之一。
4. Fidelity to engagement is a virtue.
   信守诺言是一种美德。
5. My neighbor is a man of highest virtue.
   我的邻居是一个具有高尚品德的人。
6. He said his plan had the virtue of being the easiest to implement.
   他说他的计划的优点是最简单易行。

vir.tue

n.（名词）

Moral excellence and righteousness; goodness.
正直，善良：道德上的优点和正直；美德
An example or kind of moral excellence:
美德，德行：一种美德或其实例：
例句：
the virtue of patience.
耐心的美德

Chastity, especially in a girl or woman.
贞操：贞操，尤指女孩或女子
A particularly efficacious, good, or beneficial quality; advantage:
优点，长处：尤其灵验的、好的或受益的品质；长处：
例句：
a plan with the virtue of being practical.
有着实用性优点的计划

Effective force or power:
效力，力量：
例句：
believed in the virtue of prayer.
相信祈祷的力量

virtues Theology The fifth of the nine orders of angels.
virtues 【神学】 道德天使：九级天使中的第五级
Obsolete Manly courage; valor.
【废语】 男子气概：男子汉的勇气；气概

<习惯用语>by virtue of 或
in virtue of
On the grounds or basis of; by reason of:
借助；凭借；因为：
例句：
well off by virtue of a large inheritance.
由于继承了大笔遗产而致富

来源：
Middle English vertu
中古英语 vertu
from Old French
源自 古法语
from Latin virtôs [manliness, excellence, goodness]
源自 拉丁语 virtôs [男子气，优点，美德]
from vir [man] * see wo-ro-
源自 vir [男人] *参见 wo-ro-