Virtue
A Virtue is an action, personality type, or character trait universally accepted to be wholesome and ideal in nature. Examples of virtues are: Honesty, Respect, Trustworthiness, Empathy and Chivalry. A virtuous person is one of high moral standards.
St Paul identified the three greatest virtues as faith, hope and love (or charity - the word caritas can be translated either way). In Christian tradition, these are often known as the three theological virtues, and listed alongside four other cardinal virtues: justice, fortitude, temperance and prudence[1]. This gives a total of seven virtues to match the Seven Deadly Sins; contrasting portrayals of the sins and virtues are common in religious art.
Before the twentieth century, a common meaning of "virtue" was as a euphemism for virginity. This usage is common in the writings of Shakespeare and many other pre-modern authors.
