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le; an article of slow sale, or in no demand. "But sermons are mere drugs." Fielding. And virtue shall a drug become. Dryden.

uasion, or instruction; as, a ductile people. Addison. Forms their ductile minds To human virtues. Philips.

nsisting of, containing, derived from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric power or virtue; an electric jar; electric effects; an electric spark.

syntax, by which one or more words, which are obviously understood, are omitted; as, the virtues I admire, for, the virtues which I admire.

Being, metaphorically, above others, whether by birth, high station, merit, or virtue; high in public estimation; distinguished; conspicuous; as, an eminent station; an eminent historian, statements, statesman, or saint. Right of eminent domain. (Law) See under Domain.

desirous of like excellence with another; -- with of; as, emulous of another's example or virtues.

Something supposed to condense within itself all the virtues and qualities of a substance from which it is extracted; essence. [Obs.]

influence. The conquer'd, also, and enslaved by war, Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose. Milton. Pleasure admitted in undue degree Enslaves the will. Cowper.

Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.] Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy. Ford.

ity which constitutes or marks the true nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality of a thing, separated from its grosser parts. The laws are at present, both in form and essence, the greatest curse that society labors under. Landor. Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence of this v…

Moral badness, or the deviation of a moral being from the principles of virtue imposed by conscience, or by the will of the Supreme Being, or by the principles of a lawful human authority; disposition to do wrong; moral offence; wickedness; depravity. The heart of the sons of men is full of evil. Eccl. ix. 3.…

From office; by virtue, or as a consequence, of an office; officially.

delineate extravagantly ; to overstate the truth concerning. A friend exaggerates a man's virtues. Addison.

The refinement or subtilization of a body, or the increasing of its virtue or principal property.

t; state of possessing good qualities in an eminent degree; exalted merit; superiority in virtue. Consider first that great Or bright infers not excellence. Milton.

Excellence; virtue; dignity; worth; superiority. His excellency is over Israel. Ps. lxviii. 34. Extinguish in men the sense of their own excellency. Hooker.

provement whether physical, intellectual, or moral; practice to acquire skill, knowledge, virtue, perfectness, grace, etc. "Desire of knightly exercise." Spenser. An exercise of the eyes and memory. Locke.

y perceptible; visible; physical or corporeal, as distinguished from mental or moral. Her virtues graced with external gifts. Shak.

To elevate by praise; to eulogize; to praise; to magnify; as, to extol virtue; to extol an act or a person. Wherein have I so deserved of you, That you extol me thus Shak.

de by drawing out from any substance that which gives it its essential and characteristic virtue; essence; as, extract of beef; extract of dandelion; also, any substance so extracted, and characteristic of that from which it is obtained; as, quinine is the most important extract of Peruvian bark.