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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
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Vertu, Vertew, Virtu(e, n. Also: vertue, vertw, wertu(e, wertw(e, verteu, wertew, -eu(e, vertiou, wertow, wairtew, wirtue, virtw(e, -ew, -eu, wirtewe, -eu, virthew. Pl. also vertu(i)se, wertuise, vertu(o)us, -eous, -ewus, wertuous, virtuues. [ME and e.m.E. vertu (Ancr. R.), vertue (c1290), virtu (Cursor M.), verteu (1320-30), vertewe (1338), virtue (1544); pl. vertuse (Cursor M., c1400), OF vertu, L. virtus, manliness, valour, worth, f. vir a man.]

1. The character or morality appropriate to a man; moral excellence; valour; adherence to the tenets of morality; the moral law as applied to the lives of human beings. Also proverb. and possess.There is overlap in some instances with 3 below.(a) 1375 Barb. iv 730.
Quhethir-sa men inclynyt be To vertu or to mawyte a1400 Leg. S. xl 723.
Sancte Ninian … Lofare of vertu & dyspysare Of the warld c1420 Wynt. iv 1978.
He may be callyd a gentill-man That wertu and fayr hawyng can c1420 Wynt. vii 353.
Edmwnd … wes a man off gret wertu [W. vertew] 1456 Hay II 32/36.
The hyar degree the gretter fault, and mare to be punyst in all excesse of vertu 1456 Hay II 36/20.
Ay the mydwart is vertu, sa is the extremitee vice c1508 Ch. & M. Prints vii (c) 8.
O maidyn hede of vertu nobilest Flurisching in ioy and perfyte lawlynes 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 195.
Seand thir gentyles … Ensew vertu, and eschew euery vyce 1549 Compl. 77/34.
Quhar the grace of God and the vertu of men ar coniunit to giddir, there is no leiful thing onpossibil to be exsecut 1596 Dalr. I 1/19.
I hoped … that … our cuntrey men … returneng sinceirlie to the Catholik concorde … mychte begin to follow the way of true vertue 1596 Dalr. II 163/21.
[Albany] destributet the kirk lyuengs to ilk as he was noble, nocht conforme to his vertue 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 2b.
The detracker of honestie, the invier of vertue(b) c1420 Ratis R. App. iv 2.
Wertew floure and rut is of noblay c1460 Regim. Princ. 134, 138 (Maitl.).
Thus sen vertew is grund of alking grace And souerane flour of mercy and iustice Als weill of wirschip as of wourthines … Hald vertew in thy hart 1460 Hay Alex. 4147.
His delite was sett in all nobilles, In wertew, honour, and in hie prowes a1500 Henr. Fab. 129.
This gentill iasp … Ornate with mony deidis of vertew, Mair excellent than ony eirthly thing a1500 Henr. Orph. 6 (A).
Wertew a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 269 (Asl.).
Werteu a1500 Bk. Chess 851, 853, 856.
A knycht suld haf … Wisdome, lawte, fredome & fortitud, Rewle of law, defens aye till endur In faith of Crist … The honour and knychtlye reuerens Is for his vertew and gret intelligens Nocht for his hors, his harnes [etc.] … Bot for the verteu that his saull suld beir Richt as his cors of harnes has defens So suld his saull … Of knychtlie werteu be enarmed 1560 Rolland Seven S. 69.
Dioclesiane … daylie grew in vertew and gudnes 1563 Reg. Privy S. V i 396/2.
The gude will her hienes beris to vertew(c) a1570-86 Maitl. F. 421/87.
Lat wertow than and wit haue wictorie(d) a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 436/90.
So for thi factis thow wilbe sene to find The lyk rewaird of wairtew or of wyce(e) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 867 (D).
That thow this litill gud wold do, And at the lest mycht be thé to Reputed wirteu [C. wirtue] 1460 Hay Alex. 249.
Virtwe 1460 Hay Alex. 2057.
This buk schawis nocht allanerlie … worthie deidis … Bot schawis the wayis of virtue and valieance Rycht reull [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II 283.
Sic thingis done, King Malcolme … gaif him haill to virtew c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv 23.
To cheryse virtew, And aye chaistyce vice 1622-6 Bisset II 182/16.
So did his umquhyll maiestie incluid and comprehend [sc. in his person] all guid godlie peciabill virtuis giftis and graces in governament of his peopillproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1138.
Povertie pairtes good companie and is ane enemie to vertewpossess. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 62/87.
Luve changis vyce in vertewis nobilnes 1611 Fugitive Poetry II ii 6/2.
O vertues hard rewaird! O heavie case!

2. a. As an attribute of God, Christ, etc., once, of pagan gods: Power, the operative force of a divine being. b. An embodiment of supernatural or divine power. c. The power of God as evidenced or revealed in things, esp. the Passion, sacraments, etc. d. An event displaying such power, a miracle.a. (1) a1400 Leg. S. i 582.
Throw the grace, wertu, and mycht Of our lord Jhesu a1400 Leg. S. viii 51.
Fra ded to lyfe thru the wertu He [sc. St. Philip] raysit thame of dere Jhesu a1450 Fifteen Ois 187.
O Jesu Crist, riall vertu, Joy of our mynd a1500 Henr. Annunc. 36.
Our makar Goddis sone … Quhilk erd, wattir, & hevinnis cleir, Throw grace and virtu gidis 1490 Irland Mir. I 135/28.
That the Haly Spreit of God suld cum in hire and the wertu of the hie King of glore that is His derrast Sone suld … tak … a westament … of hire nature 1490 Irland Mir. II 87/1.
God … may nocht consaue … a worthiar thinge na He is for He is … infynit in entite and in wertu c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxii 29.
Jesus ansuerd … ye knaw nocht … the virtue [A.V. power] of God c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxvi 64.
Fra hyne furth ye sal se mannis sonn sitting at the richt half of the virtue of God 1534–5 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone 35.
[The prior commanded] in the virtu of the haly spreit … that [etc.] 1550 Knox III 73.
Through the vertew of the Halie Gaist … we … may be renewit … unto trew godlines 1556 Knox IV 114.
God of all comfort and consolation confirme and strenthen yow in his vertew 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 197.
The signe is wrought and kythed … be the vertue of God 1603 Philotus 1049.
Be vertew of the Halie Ghaist Depairt out of myne hous(2) 1533 Bell. Livy I 28/1, 3.
Thai haue conquest grete … renoun … sen the goddis began to supporte thame be thare awne vertew … nowthir vertew nor favour of goddis apperit to fail to Romanisb. a1400 Leg. S. i 271.
Than sad Symon … I sall schaw thé The micht of myn dewine poware … For I am the firste wertow [L. virtus] And in the ayre als ma I now Fle c1420 Wynt. v 4867.
Thai myskend thaire creature And lowyd ma goddys than nature, Or ony wertu mycht comprys c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 498.
That thar sal cum a tyme at the vertuous of the hie hewyne sal mofe c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxiv 29.
Eftir the tribulatioun of tha dais … the sternis sal fal fra heuen and the virtues [A.V. powers] of heuenis salbe mouet 1528 Lynd. Dreme 529.
The lawest ordoure ar of angelis … The secund ordour, archangelis … Uirtus, potestatis, principatis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5455.
Than sall ryse trybulationis … Quhen vertewis of the heuin sall mouec. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 514.
[He] maid … mony parabolys full of wertew c1490 Irland Asl. MS 15/12.
That throw the werteu of the glorius passioun of Jhesu … God will remyt the syn c1490 Irland Asl. MS 17/3.
Thow art oblist to vs & trast in the passoun of Jhesu to gif werteu to all sacramentis and to mak confessioun c1490 Irland Asl. MS 43/11.
Vrison … cummis of the verteu of religioun 1490 Irland Mir. III 1/6.
Hou thai [sc. the sacraments] haue wertu in thame of the glorius passioun of Jhesu and of His haly wourdis c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. Prol.
Thouch mony men haue writin the euangel foure anly … has the witnessing of the autorite. … the euangellis of vther writeris fel doun and ar nocht resauet. For the Lord wald nocht that the forsaid novmer war destroyit for the virtue of sacrament c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4380.
Jesus … That impyre … began, Nocht … be the swourde, Bot be the vertew of his wourde a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 123/3.
In the sacrament is the same selff bodye in substance quhilk is in hewine, be the vertue of His vorde, quhilk is omnipotent 1567 G. Ball. 14.
Christ … our baptisme dotit with sanctitude, And greit vertew, to wesche our sinfulnesd. a1400 Leg. S. x 232.
Criste … raisit fra ded Ful mony man … & in his name I traste that thu Ma do the sammyne-lyk vertu c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xi 20.
Citees in quhilkis ful mony virtues [P. vertues; A.V. works] of him war done c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Cor. xii 12.
Signis and gret wonndris and virtues [A.V. mighty deeds]

3. Valour, physical and moral courage as are characteristic of a man, prowess, strength, force. Also transf.There is some overlap with 1 above. ?1438 Alex. i 222.
Or we dee … Our deidis sall be sauld full dere … folk sall se Quha hes maist vertew and bounte, And quha the hart hes maist hardy ?1438 Alex. i 732.
Ȝit was I neuer in ane stour Quhair I micht preue my valour, And into this I think to-day To byde, and my vertew assay ?1438 Alex. ii 1636.
Gaudifeir him hit … With sic vertew in randoun richt That steid and knycht … He bare doun c1420 Wynt. v 1289.
Gret landys … to the empyre wonnyn were … Throuch wyt and wertu off Trajane c1420 Wynt. vi 344, 352.
Hilderyk … wes … In nathyng repute off valu Na couth do na thyng off wertu 1456 Hay I 84/9.
Sum men haldis that quhilum syk cas may fall that it is vertu till eschape, thinkand to better cum to purpos efterwarde c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 189.
He has a luke without lust and lif without curage He has a forme without force and fessoun but vertu 1513 Doug. v v 28.
Onto hym … Eneas gevyn has, That by hys vertew wan the secund place, A habirgyon 1531 Bell. Boece I 238.
I beseik yow … for the unvincibill manheid, faith, and virthew of your eldaris … quhilkis defendit this youre realme [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II 178.
He … exhortit thame to file not with schamfull fleing the glore that thay conquest afore be thair manheid and virtew, and prayit thame to have na feir of thair ennimes for thay wer bot corpolent bodyis, but ony virtew and micht thairfore be sone vincust 1549 Compl. 2/9.
Illustir princes … ȝour … verteouse dignite incressis daly in the … auansing of the deffens of oure cuntre, quhar for ȝour heroyque vertu is of mair admiratione nor vas of Valeria the dochtir of [etc.] 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vii 707.
Magnique ipse agminis instar, … in vertew worth ane armie a1578 Pitsc. I 5/2.
That thay war goddasis of battellis … And haid in thame grett wertew and prowes c1590 Fowler II 71/23.
The reule … whairoff was obtened ather be the ayde and armeyes of some other or by his auen forces fortune or vertew 1596 Dalr. II 303/22.
Whartoun [etc.] … inuadet Scotland. The strenth nochttheles and vertue was sa valȝeant of Maxuell [etc.]transf. ?1438 Alex. ii 6582.
Dam Ydeas … was fulfillit of all bounte And had sic wertew and valour To draw gentill hart to amour

4. An instance of 1 or 3 above: A personal quality displaying moral excellence or valour, etc. Chiefly pl., also, rarely, coll. as all vertew. Also personified.sing. 1375 Barb. i 367, 371.
Throuch leavte liffis men rychtwisly. With a wertu & leavte A man may ȝeit sufficyand be And but leawte may nane haiff price … For quhar it failȝeys na wertu May be off price na off valu c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 61.
Raggit ruke … Of every vertew void c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv 12.
Ane blunt bubo, that neuer had bene at scule And sik as is of euerye virtew bair 1580 Hume Promine 142.
Thow onlie may be callit verteous, In quhome na vertew is deficientpl. 1375 Barb. x 300.
He wes fulfillit off bounte As of wertuys [C. vertwis] all maid was he ?1438 Alex. ii 80.
Kynde had nurished him sa weill Of all verteuis that man may feill c1400 Troy-bk. i 400.
Nane was wisser … Ne Medea … Ne mare of wertues to praise c1420 Ratis R. 923.
Fra vycis, sone, restrenȝe thé With wertwis c1420 Wynt. vii 1204.
That prynce excellent in wysdwme … In wertwys and in halynes 1456 Hay I 82/3 (see b (1) below). a1500 MS Rawl. Q. b. 4 92a.
Virtuues c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 124/37.
Thocht I in courte be maid refuse And have few vertewis for to ruse, Ȝit [etc.] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 686.
Scho was in vertewis aboundant a1585 Arbuthnot in Maitl. Q. 91/102.
Repeit the poetis auld … Thair thou sall find les thou be blind The vertewis of wemen c1590 Fowler I 19/4.
Happie thow who hes his [sc. Achilles'] verteuis toulde! c1590 Fowler II 119/3.
His [sc. Hannibal's] inhumane crueltie, which conjoinyed with the rest of his infinit verteues, caused him to be reverenced in the sight of his suddarts 1596 Dalr. I 1/11.
Mony … worthie and notable vertues, in quhilkes our elderis, sumtyme florisched, and war mekle renouned 16.. Hist. Kennedy 25.
He was indewitt with mony gude wertewis 1611-57 Mure Sonn. i 6.
Endles repoirt … Thy hie, heroick verteues hath stoired(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 831.
In vertuise & in thowis fare He … sa can hyme-self leyde That … thai … Mad hyme abbot a1400 Leg. S. xli 27.
Of fele vertuse with syndrynes He clethis thame(c) c1420 Ratis R. 410.
Gyf that it bee, That … thai be contrarious To resone or to gud wertuous c1475 Wall. v 600.
Curtas and swete fulfillyt of gentrys [etc.] … Off wertuous scho was worthy till awance 1513 Doug. x x 122.
I lawly thé beseik, Be thyne awyn vertuus and thy thewys meyk … Thow spair this wofull sylly sawle 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 43.
James … erll of Murray, and Gilbert … erll of Cassillis men excellent in the tyme, in all vertuus perteining to ane nobill mancoll. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 552.
Ane mayd … Nobill courtes and plesand of visage With all vertew that in wemen micht be a1568 Bann. MS 92b/38.
Amang all vertew justice is lawreatpersonified c1590 Fowler I 70/105.
With hir … all the verteus fair—O what a hevinlie cumpanie and glorious troupe

b. One of a number (twelve, seven, four, etc.) of virtues, also (the) (four) cardinal (principal, soverane) virtues and the vertewis of the mes.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vi 386.
The twelfe greis of vertuse. The firste … Is in God fermly til trew [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv 216.
The sewine vertuise 1456 Hay I 82/4.
Bot he contynew in vertues quhill he is here lyfand. The quhilkis four vertues ar callit justice temperance force and prudence c1490 Porteous Noblenes 172/19 (A).
Thir xij wertuis c1490 Porteous Noblenes 174/27 (A).
The thrid werteu in ane noble is honoure 1551 Hamilton Cat. 7.
The twa principal vertewis callit faith and hoip 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1441.
Seuin vertewis Fechtand contrair seuin deidlie sinnis(2) c1420 Ratis R. 272, 335, 381.
To thé, my sone, ȝit ken I sall The four vertuous principall … The first … Is stalwartnes of hart … The next wertw is rychtwysnes … The thrid wertew is gud quantice … The ferd is temperans 1456 Hay I 81/33, 34, 35.
Quhat is vertu cardynale, … it is to wit that vertu morale is … vertu cardinale bot vertuously to lyve … and sett his hert apon vertu halely and all his study … to ples his God 1456 Hay II 146/16.
Syk a prince … that has bathe justice in hert and in dede resemblis … God … And quhat prince … that has nocht this soverane vertu in ded and in hert [etc.] … is contrarious to kingis and princis 1490 Irland Mir. I 149/7.
Sche excedit all vthire in hevinly and cardinall wertuis 1490 Irland Mir. III 158/22, 25.
The four cardinal wertuis, to the king iustice fortitud and strenth to the nobillis, to the clergi prudens and to the burgessis and commoune pepill temporaunce and be thir four wertuus suld be maid the reformacioun of all this haill realme 1551 Hamilton Cat. 54.
The four principal verteous quhilk God requiris a1568 Scott i 25.
The first four vertewus cardinall, On wisdome, iustice, force, and temperans(3) c1460 Vert. Mess 1.
Her begynnis the vertewis of the mes … And fyrst & formest [etc.] 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 237.
All kindis of illis … In Crystis name I coniure ye I coniure ye baith mair and les with all the vertewis of the mes

c. With specification of a particular virtue, chiefly const. the vertu of. Also proverb. 1456 Hay I 83/35.
The vertu of fors, that is callit in Latyn fortitudo 1456 Hay II 54/19.
Prudence is a vertu [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 1595.
The vertew of pietie a1500 Henr. Fab. 2286.
But lawte All vther vertewis ar nocht worth ane fle 1490 Irland Mir. I 62/20.
The wertuis, as faithe, grace [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 315.
Mercy in to womanheid is a mekle vertu c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 62/67.
Gife that vertew contrair be to vyce Than lufe mon be a vertew 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 34.
The vertu [Sm. virteu] souerane … hecht magnanymyte 1562-3 Winȝet I 107/12.
Fayth is na mair a part of pennance than it is of ony wthir vertew a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 53/141.
I luif the vertew callit gratitude a1585 Polwart Flyt. 751 (T).
Thy pikkillit puir paremeonis … ar to blame … For laik of language I wat weill thow dois it Making that vertew vice … Quhair evrie minnym aucht to be refuisitproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1037.
Meikldom is no vertue

5. Cleverness, skill, ability, wisdom; an instance of this. b. A bodily sense or ability, esp. one of the five senses. c1420 Wynt. ii 552.
Thai [Sc. the Jews] grewe so fast, Off industry and ingyne, In byrth, and off wertu syne, And off welth … That the Egyptys for inwy [etc.] c1420 Wynt. vii 3609.
Men that had ma Oxyn he gert in pluchys ga … Be that vertu [W. Be his vertu] all hys land Off corn he gert be abowndand c1450-2 Howlat 264 (A).
Thir fowlis … weraly awysit, full of wertewe The maner, the mater, and how it remanyt 1456 Hay II 150/12.
As the man is … of better counsale, sa is his vertu judicative mare worthy a1500 Rauf C. 162.
Thow hes walkit … in mony wyld land, The mair vertew thow suld haue, to keip thé fra blame a1500 Colk. Sow iii 45.
Quhoso hath a vertew Vs it wysly oft syis ten frome it grew a1500 Bk. Chess 35.
Of the quhilk [sc. chess] quha prentis wele in mynd The circumstance the figur & the kynd And followis it he sall of werteu be. The maner of office … Of kingis … sall he eftir knaw And of craftisb. c1420 Ratis R. 124.
The sycht … is a wertew of gret mycht, Fore-quhy it makis the knawleginge c1420 Ratis R. 153.
The thrid wertew is smelinge Of nes 1456 Hay II 158/34.
Sa is thare in the mannis hede his v wittis and othir vertues in his membris, quhilkis governis all his body

6. specif. Used of education. a. Learning concerned with (the principles of) morality. Cf. 1 above. b. (A) practical skill or ability, later esp. regarded as inculcating the virtues of work, and associated with the foundation of houses of vertew, see quots. 1641, 1647 below.a., b. 1501 Reg. Privy S. I 105/2 (see S(c)ience n. 2 (3)). 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 134 (see S(c)ience n. 2 (3)). 1562-3 Winȝet I 23/13.
The teching of the grammar scule of Linlychtquow … I iugeit the teching of the ȝouthhed in vertew and science … to obtene [etc.] 1576 Reg. Privy C. II 565.
That all patronis havand … prebendariis of collegis, [etc.] … may … present the same to bursaris … to study vertew and letters within ane college in ony universitie … thair to remane for sic space as the patroun pleis to hald him at vertew and leirning within the foirsaid college a1578 Pitsc. I 8/13.
This nobill bischope did his cuir To bring this nobill prince to verteu and science 1585 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 96.
To bring up and instruct in guid vertew and letteres 1585 Misc. Spald. C. II 343 (see Educat p.p.). 1588 Old Ross-shire I 26.
That the same [sc. a schoolhouse] be maist necessar for upbringing of the youth in edificatioun of verteu and gude letteris 1597 Acts IV 148/1.
Collegis … to the advancement of the loist and tint ȝouthe in bringing tham vp in leirning and vertew 15… Aberd. B. Rec. (Jam.) s.v. Wertews n. pl.
The singeir to pas & remane in Pareis for ane yeir to leir wertews 1641 Acts V 657/2.
Forsameikle as the want of manufactories especiallie of cloth … ar the occasioun of the great poverty this countrey sufferis … and … occasiones all sortis of villanie … for remeid quheroff … it is necessar that in everie schyre … thair be ane schooll or hous of vertue erected … and in this hous euerie paroch … to provyde tua boyes to be bound prenteises … to learne all sortes of working cloth 1641 Acts V 658/1.
Cloth … made in the saidis houses of vertew 1641 Acts V 658/2.
That … thair be erected ane hous of correctione … for idle and sturdie vagaboundes … the saidis maisteris … must be able for the persones committed to thair charge and for thair labouris in vertew 1647 Sc. Ant. XIII 33.
The elders to … take up a list … what children they have to be put to some virtue and manufactorie 1654 Stirlings of Keir 462.
Shall … sustein the saids daughters in … learning, at schooles, and other vertew

7. a. (The) power or efficacy of, chiefly natural, things; also, of non-material things. b. Of things having efficacy, freq. supernatural or occult, for particular purposes. Also with modifier describing the particular capacity.a. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 940.
It mycht les grewe … To [se] the sowne in maste vertu, Thane [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 2191.
Throw strenth and vertew of the play [F. Par la force dou jeu on tant a de vertus] That [etc.] c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 74.
Of my sicht the vertew hale iblent 1456 Hay I 76/19.
All the vertew that the erdly thingis takis thai tak fra the hevin and fra the said disposicioun of the sternis and the planetis 1490 Irland Mir. I 58/16.
It [sc. the Earth] is of gret wertu, that producis sa mony nobile and worthi creaturis 1528 Lynd. Dreme 428.
Phebus … Quhose influence and vertew excellent Geuis the lyfe tyll euerilk erthlie thyng a1578 Pitsc. I 248/9.
How that prince … Destroyit was … Nocht be the vertew of Inglis ordinance Bot be his awin wilfull misgowernance 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i 155.
To loues cælestial force … Quhose vertue and true power [etc.] 1644 Hume Douglas 233/22.
Nether is it the musike of that rughe singer that giveth the force, far lesse the vertue of the grose rymeb. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 1, 7 (see Vertu(o)us adj. 5). c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1292 (C).
What the palladinar myght be Was nought knawyne nor yhit the myght Ne the wirtue 1460 Hay Alex. 2665.
For the virtue of his holie banes, The serpentis war all waistit 1494 Deidis of Armorie 54.
Angeuines … regendris gud blud … and has vertu aganis puisson c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 144/135, 136.
Herb without vertew thow hald nocht of sic pryce As herb of vertew and of odor sueit 15.. Clar. iii 2118.
The ringe … Whais vertew beine for bludis effusioun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5660.
Let vs … seik Herbes to be salf, that is of maist vertew a1585 Maitl. Q. 160/9.
Be hid vertew … The adamant drawis yron thairtill 1580 Skeyne Descr. Well 2.
The profeit and phisical vertew of ane fontaine hes bene obseruit … at Abirdene a1586 Lindsay MS 6b.
He hes nowther herb nor stane of wirtew nor wichecraift or sorcerye … to help him 1589 Lett. Jas. VI to Bruce 280.
I think this soulde be a holie iubile in Scotland and oure schippis soulde have the uertue of the arke in agreeing for a tyme at least 1657 Dunkeld Presb. II 58.
Ascriving more vertew to that well upon that day [sc. the first sabbath of May] nor to any other well upon any other day c1680 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 214.
Sanct Maries nutt quhilk they did wear … holding it to have the verteu to preserve woemen in child bearing(2) 1456 Hay II 123/32.
The remaynis [sc. of food] … culis the vertu degestive and destroyis the vertu of naturale fude 1456 Hay II 127/10.
The stomak be the vertu attractive, drawis till it syndry humouris

8. A capacity or efficacious aspect of a thing, chiefly an instance of 7 above. a1400 Leg. S. xxii 9.
Mychtty wertuise thre Ar contenyt in this tre. In the fyrst, it brakis the stane … Alsa it has vertu & maucht Fore to resyst a-gane fyre-slacht ?1438 Alex. ii 2556.
In lele lufing Wit … Laute … Heling … Thir thre ar the vertewis … That maist of strenth and vertew is For to sustene the branches wele Of lufe c1400 Troy-bk. ii 230 (C).
This token … Hade in-to it such a wirtue [D. wertue] That while at it with-ine myght be The tempile … The walles neuire of this toune Shall tone be with thar foes 1533 Gau 4/12.
Thay haif gadrit to gider in thir … bukis … fals fenȝeit titels and … commendations … that thay quhilk … buyr thaime apone thayme suld haiff sa mony thousand ȝeris of pardone … thay gaif sic vane glorious tetels and namis and pouers that thay quhilk red thaime … suld noth be slayne [etc.] … and siclik thay dremit and maid innumerabil pouers and vertus [MS verturs] and laid to siclik orisons … the quhilk ver lang to vrit heir

9. In the law: The efficacy, validity or effectiveness (of an oath, etc.). c1405 Cotton Vespasian MS F VIII 86a.
Qwen ony sic attemptatis hapnys agayn the virtw of the trewys 1410–11 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 31.
The bischop of Brechineis borrowis foirsaid is of wertu and force c1420 Wynt. viii 930.
Noucht agaynstandande the gret ath That thai swor … The matere suld all decleryd be Set sum off thame to that wes lath, Agayne the wertu off thare ath, Quhat be awe, quhat be thret, He gert thame thare decrete retret 1527 Douglas Corr. 117.
Incontrarie the virtew of the trewis takin betuix the two realmes 1529 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 101.
Jhone Stoddert … depones be the verteu of his gret aytht … that he hard [etc.] 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 299.
That exceptioun of the law that the decreit of ane inferior judge can not prejudge the soverainn is not altogidder of vertue, because the decreit of ane inferior court standand will stop the superior to [blank]

10. The efficacious application (of a thing), an instance of this, specif. an economic or social benefit. a1500 Colk. Sow iii 143.
Quhat did the penny than First hid in hurde To vertew nocht applyit And syne outbrocht that so fer fructefyit 1545–6 Reg. Great S. 757/2.
Native men of the said burgh quhilk … is habill to use marchandice, policie and utheris virtewis concerning the wele of the said burgh ar putt fra the takkis … throw the quhilk thai mon … pas to uthir partis to duell quhairthrow all virtew and marchandice within the said burgh is abusit, ceissit and dekeyit

11. Be, throw vertu of, by the power or force of, by means of, on account of, because of. See 2 a (1) above for a further example.(1) 1398–9 Acts I 211/1.
Na the forsaid lieutenant be nocht haldyn tyl ansuer suylke contremandmentis, na be nocht essoynyhet thruch vertu of thaim that he doys nocht his office 1432 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 285.
Throw uertu of a letter of baileȝere ȝifin to me a1450 Fifteen Ois 68.
I pray Thé, Jesu … Throu vertu of this memour … Grant me [etc.] a1570-86 Maitl. F. 412/5.
Tak a wobster … a myllar … ane preist … And throw virtew of thir thre That deid corps sall qwyknyt be(2) 1433 Swintons App. xxxvi.
Be vertu of his office of tutowri 1456 Hay I 76/34.
The materis that thir erdly thingis ar compound of … engendrit be vertu of the four first qualiteis that is hate and calde, moyst and dry 1476 Acta Aud. 51/2.
The soume of viij^c merkis … aucht to him … be vertew of ane obligatioun [etc.] c1475 Wall. viii 1517.
We ask her als, be wertu off this band [etc.] 1488–91 Treas. Acc. I 166.
Be vertu and strenth of our Souuerain Lordis commissioun 1519–20 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 194.
And be vertew of the saidis writtingis … chairgit the said provest to ceid his office 1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 109.
Arche Raith tuk ane ak that he had won the pley be verteu of his preffis 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 44.
To require … the King of France be vertew of his leig to declare the King of Ingland his innemy c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 179.
The quhilk may not corrupt … Be vertew of the precious oyntment Of balme 1555 Prot. Bk. Sir Wm. Corbet 21.
Thai … requirit be vertue of lawe the said meill to be lattyn to borros a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 120/7.
That He rais one the thyrd day … and that be verteu of His godheid 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 184.
As he that is haldyn sa to do be verteu of defloracion of hyr virginite 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 136.
He inlaikit, be vertew of thy deuilsche witchecraft 1609 Inverness Rec. II 62.
Vertiou 1609 Inverness Rec. II 68.
Ane burru precept … be werteue quhairof the personis … var summond 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I 269.
We … have resewit … saxe demecolvering … be wertew and att the speciall comand of his Majestie 1681 Rec. Old Aberd. I 136.
All the benefite that sall accres to other merchands, be vertue of the incorporatione

12. proverb. a. To mak of neid vertu, to make a virtue of necessity. b. Neide … makis (Mak v.¹ 24 b.) wertew, = a above.a. c1460 Regim. Princ. 174 (Fairf.).
Thus mon thou mak of neid vertu a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 478.
I counsall thé mak vertew of ane neid 1535 Stewart 40246.
Greit terrour … Causis ane man [to] mak vertu of neid a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 687.
Of need make vertueb. 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 172.
Neide oft makis wertew a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 648.
Need makes vertue