virtuosi

Italian plural of virtuoso. virtuosic (vir-tö-ō'sik), a. [ Of late we have had only fugitive pieces of the romantic, and even virtuosic , schools. The Academy, April 13, 1889, p. 261. virtuosity (vir-tö-os'i-ti), n. [ tively; the virtuosi. Macaulay, Hallam's Const. Hist. Emerson, Eloquence, The virtue of books is to be readable, and of orators to be interesting. 6. An inherent power; a property capable of producing certain effects; strength; force; potency; efficacy; influence, especially active influence, and often medicinal efficacy. Zif zou lyke to knowe the Vertues of the Dyamand (as men may fynde in the Lipidarye, that many men knowen noght), I schalle telle zou. Mandeville , Travels, p. 159. This Salomon was wise and knew the vertues of stones and trees, and so hee knew the course of the starres. Sir T. Malory , Morte d'Arthur, III. lxxxvi. I see there 's virtue in my heavenly words. Marlowe , Faustus, i. 3. Jesus, immediately knowing that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the pre , and said, Who touched my clothes? Mark v. 30. Your If is the only peace-maker; much virtue in If. Shak., As you Like it, v. 4. 108. These I can cure, such secret virtue lies In herbs applied by a virgin's hand. Fletcher, Faithful Shepherde , i. 1. 7. One of the orders of the celestial hierarchy. The virtues are often represented in art as angels in complete armor, bearing pennons and battle-axes. Hear, all ye angels, progeny of light, Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues , powers! Hear my decree. Milton , P. L., v. 601. 8t. A mighty work; a miracle. Thanne Jhesus big an to seye repreef to citees in whiche ful man ye vertues of him weren doon. Wyclif , Mat. xi. 20. By virtue of, in virtue of, by or through the power, force, efficacy, or authority of. By vertu of the auctorite that he hath of the chirche. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), i. 21. The king then a umed the power in virtue of his prerogative. D. Webster, Speech, March 10, 1818. Cardinal virtues. See cardinal.- Material virtuet. See material.- Moral virtue. See moral . - Theological virtues, the three virtues faith, hope, and charity. The seven chief or principal virtues. See seven. - To make a virtue of nece ity, to do as if from inclination or sense of duty what has to be done by compulsion. However, we were forced to make a virtue of nece ity, and humour him, for it was neither time nor place to be angry with the Indians, all our lives lying in their hand. Dampier , Voyages, I. 13. =Syn. 2. Morals , Ethics , etc. (see morality ); probity, integrity, rectitude, worth. virtued (ver'tūd), a. [ It was Zum Grünen Ganse,.. where all the Virtu osity and nearly all the Intellect of the place a embled of Carlyle, Sartor Resartus, i. 3. an evening. 2. In the fine arts, exceptional skill; highly cultivated dexterity; thorough control of technic. Virtuosity is really a condition to the highest artistic succe , since it means a complete mastery of the materials and proce es at the artist's disposal; but, inasmuch as the ready use of materials and proce es is often in itself wonderful to the percipient, virtuosity is often erroneously cultivated and applauded for its own sake. The term is especially applied to music. In this [inlaid work], as in the later work of most styles of art, mechanical virtuosity .. was beginning to usurp the place of originality and purity of design. G. C. M. Bird wood , Indian Arts, II. 44. This gave to both performers a legitimate opportunity of displaying their virtuosity . The Academy, June 15, 1889, p. 420. Brilliancy of technique is now the property of nearly every public performer, and instrumental music is being threatened by that decadence which all art history proves is the constant companion of virtuosity . The Century , XXXV. 2. virtuoso (vir-tö-ōsō), n.; pl. virtuosos, virtuosi (-sōz, -si). [= F. virtuose, The Italians call a man a virtuoso who loves the noble arts and is a critic in them. Dryden, On Dufresnoy's Art of Painting. Our host. had been a Colonel in France;... was a true old blade, and had been a very curious virtuoso, as we found by a handsome collection books, medals,. and other antiquities. Evelyn, Diary, March 23, 1646. Nothing can be pleasanter than to see a circle of these virtuosos about a cabinet of medals, descanting upon the value, rarity, and authentical ne of the several pieces that lie before them. Add is on, Ancient Medals, i. If this virtuoso excels in one thing more than another, it is in canes. Steele , Tatler, No. 142. His house, indeed, would not much attract the admiration of the virtuoso. He built it himself, and it is remarkable only for its plainne . Fielding , Amelia, iii. 12. 3. One who is a master of the mechanical part of a fine art, especially music, and who makes display of his dexterity. See virtu But hath the virtu'd steel a pow'r to move? Or can the untouch'd needle point alike? Quarles, Emblems, v. 4. osity , 2. virulence The virtuoso afterwards exhibited his marvellous execution in solos by Pagan in i and Wieniawski. The Academy, June 1, 1889, p. 386. virtuosoship (vir-to-ō'sō-ship), n. [ Bp . Hurd . virtuous (ver'tū-us), a. [Early mod. E. also ver tuous; Neuertheles whan Merlin saugh the Saisnes so ver to use , he ascride the kynge Ban: "Sir, what do ye now? ye myght haue hem putte oute of the place longe seth, ffor ye be moo peple be that oon half than thi be." Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 595. Must all men that are virtuous Think suddenly to match themselves with me? I conquer'd him, and bravely; did I not? Beau. and Fl ., King and No King, i. 1. 2. Po e ed of or exhibiting virtue; morally good; acting in conformity with right; discharging moral duties and obligations, and abstaining from immoral practices: as, a virtuous man. A Man of excellent Parts of Body, and of no le Endowments of Mind; valiant and witty; to which if we might add vertuous , he had been compleat. Baker , Chronicles, p. 107. It is the interest of the world that virtuous men should attain to greatne , because it gives them the power of doing good. Dryden, Amboyna, Ded. A virtuous mind cannot long esteem a base one. Hamilton, To Mi Schuyler (Works, I. 187). Indeed, as Aristotle says, our idea of a virtuous man includes the characteristic that he takes pleasure in doing virtuous actions. H. Sidgwick , Methods of Ethics, p. 32. 3. Being in conformity to the moral or divine law: as, a virtuous deed; a virtuous life. If what we call virtue be only virtuous because it is useful, it can only be virtuous when it is useful. Lecky, Europ. Morals, I. 45. The beauty of a virtuous action may be explained as consisting in its relation to the virtuous character in which it has its source, or to the other acts of a virtuous life, or to the general condition of a virtuous state of society. Fowler , Shaftesbury and Hutches on, p. 67. If there is any virtuous action performed at any time, that in it which constitutes it virtuous is the motive of universal love which is its impelling force.