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nction to one whose life is controlled by religious motives. The love (in the moralist of virtue, but in the Christian) of God himself. Hammond.

ndard of right. The morality of an action is founded in the freedom of that principle, by virtue of which it is in the agent's power, having all things ready and requisite to the performance of an action, either to perform or not perform it. South.

iving or bestowing with extraordinary liberality; generous bounty; lavish generosity. The virtues of liberality and munificence. Addison.

ative and gloomy one. C. Kingsley. -- Muscular excitability (Physiol.), that property in virtue of which a muscle shortens, when it is stimulated; irritability. -- Muscular sense (Physiol.), muscular sensibility; the sense by which we obtain knowledge of the condition of our muscles and to what extent they are contra…

point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy. The difference is too nice Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. Pope.

To give a nickname to; to call by a nickname. You nickname virtue; vice you should have spoke. Shak. I altogether disclaim what has been nicknamed the doctrine of finality. Macaulay.

tion, or title, whether inherited or conferred. I fell on the same argument of preferring virtue to nobility of blood and titles, in the story of Sigismunda. Dryden.

One of the nobility; a noble; a peer; one who enjoys rank above a commoner, either by virtue of birth, by office, or by patent.

upport and increase to; to encourage; to foster; as, to nourish rebellion; to nourish the virtues. "Nourish their contentions." Hooker.

That which promotes development or growth. Is not virtue in mankind The nutriment that feeds the mind Swift.

wards and punishments annexed to it. South. Religion obliges men to the practice of those virtues which conduce to the preservation of our health. Tillotson.

from the proper office or officer, or from the proper authority; made or communicated by virtue of authority; as, an official statement or report.

By the proper officer; by virtue of the proper authority; in pursuance of the special powers vested in an officer or office; as, accounts or reports officially vertified or rendered; letters officially communicated; persons officially notified.

; hence, one who is omnipotent; the Deity. Will Omnipotence neglect to save The suffering virtue of the wise and brave Pope.

By virtue of; with the pledge of; -- denoting a pledge or engagement, and put before the thing pledged; as, he affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honor.

To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence. The virtues of private persons operate but on a few. Atterbury. A plain, convincing reason operates on the mind both of a learned and ignorant hearer as long as they live. Swift.

check, restrain, or defeat; resistance. The counterpoise of so great an opposition. Shak. Virtue which breaks through all opposition. Milton.

tate of being ordained, appointed, etc. The holy and wise ordination of God. Jer. Taylor. Virtue and vice have a natural ordination to the happiness and misery of life respectively. Norris.

To domineer over by virtue of office. [Obs.] Shak.

Open to view; public; apparent; manifest. Overt and apparent virtues bring forth praise. Bacon.