different between virtuous vs healthy

English

Alternative forms

• vertuous (obsolete)
• vertuus (obsolete)
• virtuose (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English vertuous, borrowed from Anglo-Norman vertuous, vertous, ultimately from Late Latin virtu?sus, from Latin virt?s.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?v??t????s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?v?t??u?s/
• Hyphenation: vir?tu?ous

Adjective

virtuous (comparative more virtuous, superlative most virtuous)

1. Full of virtue, having excellent moral character.

Synonyms

• good
• righteous

Derived terms

• virtuous circle, virtuous cycle
• virtuousness

Related terms

• virtual
• virtue
• virtuosity

Translations

Further reading

• virtuous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• virtuous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Middle English

Adjective

virtuous

1. Alternative form of vertuous

English

Etymology

From health +? -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?l.?i/
• Rhymes: -?l?i

Adjective

healthy (comparative healthier or more healthy, superlative healthiest or most healthy)

1. Enjoying health and vigor of body, mind, or spirit: well.

   Antonym: unhealthy
2. Conducive to health.

   Synonym: healthful

   Antonym: unhealthy
3. Evincing health.
4. (figuratively) Significant, hefty; beneficial.

Usage notes

When a clearer distinction is intended, healthy is used to describe the state of the object, and healthful describes its ability to impart health to the recipient. Vegetables in good condition are both healthy (i.e., not rotten or diseased) and healthful (i.e., they improve the eaters' health, compared to eating junk food). By contrast, a poisonous plant can be healthy, but it is not healthful to eat it.

Derived terms

Related terms

• heal
• healing
• whole

Translations

Further reading

• healthy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• healthy in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.