I.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.
I. In gen.
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.—
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.—
II. In partic.
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.—
B. Moral perfection, virtuousness, virtue.
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. 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.—
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.—
D. Obstinacy: “iniqua,” Stat. Th. 11, 1.
