What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Virtue vs Perfection - What's the difference?

virtue | perfection |

As nouns the difference between virtue and perfection

is that virtue is the inherent power of a god, or other supernatural being while perfection is the quality or state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; entire development; consummate culture, skill, or moral excellence; the highest attainable state or degree of excellence; maturity; as, perfection in an art, in a science, or in a system; perfection in form or degree; fruits in perfection.

As a verb perfection is

to perfect.

virtue

English

(wikipedia virtue)

Alternative forms

* vertue (archaic)

Noun

  • (obsolete) The inherent power of a god, or other supernatural being.
  • The inherent power or efficacy of something (now only in phrases).
  • * 2011 , "The autumn of the patriarchs", The Economist , 17 Feb 2011:
    • many Egyptians still worry that the Brotherhood, by virtue of discipline and experience, would hold an unfair advantage if elections were held too soon.
  • (uncountable) Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.
  • * 1749 , Henry Fielding, Tom Jones , XV.1:
    • There are a set of religious, or rather moral, writers, who teach that virtue is the certain road to happiness, and vice to misery, in this world.
  • A particular manifestation of moral excellence in a person; an admirable quality.
  • * 1766 , Laurence Sterne, Sermon XLIV:
    • Some men are modest, and seem to take pains to hide their virtues ; and, from a natural distance and reserve in their tempers, scarce suffer their good qualities to be known [...].
  • Specifically, each of several qualities held to be particularly important, including the four cardinal virtues, the three theological virtues, or the seven virtues opposed to the seven deadly sins.
  • * 1813 , John Fleetwood, The Life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ :
    • The divine virtues of truth and equity are the only bands of friendship, the only supports of society.
  • An inherently advantageous or excellent quality of something or someone; a favourable point, an advantage.
  • * 1719 , :
    • There were divers other plants, which I had no notion of or understanding about, that might, perhaps, have virtues of their own, which I could not find out.
  • * 2011 , The Guardian , Letter, 14 Mar 2011
    • One virtue of the present coalition government's attack on access to education could be to reopen the questions raised so pertinently by Robinson in the 1960s [...].
  • A creature embodying divine power, specifically one of the orders of heavenly beings, traditionally ranked above angels and below archangels.
  • * 1667 , John Milton, Paradise Lost , Book X:
    • Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues , Powers; / For in possession such, not only of right, / I call ye, and declare ye now [...].
  • (uncountable) Specifically, moral conduct in sexual behaviour, especially of women; chastity.
  • * 1813 , Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice :
    • though she did not suppose Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement without the intention of marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey.

    Synonyms

    *

    Antonyms

    * (excellence in morals) vice * foible

    Derived terms

    * virtuous * make a virtue of necessity * patience is a virtue * in virtue of, by virtue of

    Related terms

    * virago * virile * virtual * virtuosity * virtuosa * virtuoso * virtuous

    See also

    * aretaic * paragon

    External links

    * *

    perfection

    English

    (wikipedia perfection)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The quality or state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; entire development; consummate culture, skill, or moral excellence; the highest attainable state or degree of excellence; maturity; as, perfection' in an art, in a science, or in a system; '''perfection''' in form or degree; fruits in ' perfection .
  • A quality, endowment, or acquirement completely excellent; an ideal; faultlessness; especially, the divine attribute of complete excellence.
    • What tongue can her perfections tell? -
  • The highest degree of excellence.
    • to imitate a model to perfection

    Quotations

    * 1784 , William Jones, The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery, &c. , PREFACE
    THE favourable reception the Orrery has met with from Per?ons of the fir?t di?tinction, and from Gentlemen and Ladies in general, has induced me to add to it ?everal new improvements in order to give it a degree of Perfection ; and di?tingui?h it from others?;?which by Piracy, or Imitation, may be introduced to the Public.

    Synonyms

    * faultlessness * infallibility

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To perfect.
    • (Foote)
  • * (William Woty)
    • Sooner I'd kneel unto the modern nine / Alike perfectioned , though a virgin's name / They cannot boast
    (Webster 1913)

    References

    * ----