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Broken down in respect of rectitude, principle, virtue, or decency; openly and shamelessly immoral or vicious; dissolute; as, profligate man or wretch. A race more profligate than we. Roscommon. Made prostitute and profligate muse. Dryden.

g rests or leans for support; a support; a stay; as, a prop for a building. "Two props of virtue." Shak.

Like a prude; very formal, precise, or reserved; affectedly severe in virtue; as, a prudish woman; prudish manners. A formal lecture, spoke with prudish face. Garrick.

e the world shall stand, The most important and effectual guard, Support, and ornament of virtue's cause. Cowper.

cumstance; requisite capacity or possession. There is no qualification for government but virtue and wisdom, actual or presumptive. Burke.

f it; distinguishing property, characteristic, or attribute; peculiar power, capacity, or virtue; distinctive trait; as, the tones of a flute differ from those of a violin in quality; the great quality of a statesman.

Hence: An extract from anything, containing its rarest virtue, or most subtle and essential constituent in a small quantity; pure or concentrated essence. Let there be light, said God; and forthwith light Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, Sprung from the deep. Milton.

To emit rays; to be radiant; to shine. Virtues shine more clear In them [kings], and radiant like the sun at noon. Howell.

Hence, mean or tattered attire; worn-out dress. And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm. Dryden.

tion; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank. These all are virtues of a meaner rank. Addison.

To extend to; to stretch out as far as; to touch by virtue of extent; as, his hand reaches the river. Thy desire . . . leads to no excess That reaches blame. Milton.

foster; as, to rear offspring. He wants a father to protect his youth, And rear him up to virtue. Southern.

reason did the ancient fathers render, why the church was called "catholic." Bp. Pearson. Virtue and vice are not arbitrary things; but there is a natural and eternal reason for that goodness and virtue, and against vice and wickedness. Tillotson.

To be sent back; to rebound as from a surface; to revert; to return. Whose virtues will, I hope, Reflect on Rome, as Titan's rays on earth. Shak.

Respect; relation; reference. Persuade them to pursue and persevere in virtue, with regard to themselves; in justice and goodness with regard to their neighbors; and piefy toward God. I. Watts.

One who registers; esp., one who , by virtue of securing an official registration, obtains a certain right or title of possession, as to a trade-mark.

-- with on, formerly also with in. Go in thy native innocence; rely On what thou hast of virtue. Milton. On some fond breast the parting soul relies. Gray.

s possession of property under a defective title, to his rights under some valid title by virtue of which he might legally have entered into possession only by suit. Bouvier.

Hence, to furnish; to contribute. Logic renders its daily service to wisdom and virtue. I. Watts.

majesty to the lords and commons. Fuller. After the toil of battle to repose Your wearied virtue. Milton.