vertu

Meaning

1. (historical, uncountable) The fine arts as a subject of study or expertise; understanding of arts and antiquities.
2. (historical, uncountable) Objets d'art collectively.
3. (uncountable) Especially with reference to the writings of Machiavelli (1469–1527): the requisite qualities for political or military success; vitality, determination; power.
4. (uncountable) Moral worth; virtue, virtuousness.

Synonyms

virtu

connoisseurship

Translations

qualitats

virtuts

καλιτεχνήματα

καλλιτεχνική αξία

Pronounced as (IPA)

/vəˈtuː/

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian virtù, †vertù (“moral worth, virtue (13th century); determination, perseverance, military valour (14th century); study of the liberal or fine arts; appreciation of, taste for, or expertise in the fine arts; objets d'art collectively (16th century)”); or from French vertu (“virtue”), ultimately from Latin virtūt-, virtus (“virtue”). Doublet of virtue; compare also virtuoso.