Word: virtues (noun)

Associations

Virtues are positive qualities or traits that are considered good or desirable in a person. They guide our behavior and actions towards others and ourselves. They often represent moral standards.

• Honesty is a virtue. This suggests that being truthful is a quality to be respected and followed.
• Patience is a virtue. This means that being able to wait calmly is a good character trait.
• Generosity is one of her virtues. This tells us that being giving and kind to others is part of her character.

A well-known synonym is "goodness." The difference is that "virtues" often refers to specific traits or qualities (like courage, kindness), whereas "goodness" is a broader term that encompasses overall moral quality.

Substitution

You might also use "qualities," "traits," or "values" instead of "virtues":

• Using "qualities," you could say, Her qualities include kindness and empathy. But "qualities" can refer to both good and bad traits, while "virtues" specifically means good traits.
• Replacing it with "values," you could say, They teach important values. Here, "values" focuses more on principles guiding behavior, which can be more subjective and vary by culture compared to "virtues."

Deconstruction

The word "virtues" comes from the Latin word "virtus," which means "moral strength" or "excellence." The root "virt-" refers to strength and worthiness. There is no prefix, and there's typically no suffix used in common usage for this term.

Inquiry

Consider these questions:

• What virtues do you think are most important in your culture? Why?
• Can you think of a time when you showed a virtue? What did you do?
• Are there virtues that you admire in others but find hard to practice yourself? Why do you think that is?