See Also: virtue(dictionary)
virtue(encyclopedia)
virtue(dictionary)
virtue(medicine)
virtue ethics(encyclopedia)
Tight money or dear money(finance)
tax-deferred(dictionary)
Tax Deferred(money)
Deferred futures(finance)
Deferred Billing(money)

Deferred Payments (money) and virtue (iou)


Deferred Payments (money)


Definition: Payments extended over a period of time.







virtue (iou)



virtue noun. ME.
[Old & mod. French vertu from Latin virtus valour, worth, merit, moral perfection, from vir man.]
I. As a personal attribute.
a. The power or operative influence inherent in a supernatural or divine being. arch. ME.
b. An embodiment of such power; spec. in Christian theology, a member of the fifth order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy, ranking directly below the dominations and above the powers (usu. in pl.). ME.
c. An act of superhuman or divine power; a miracle. ME-E16.
Conformity of life and conduct with moral principles; voluntary adherence to recognized laws or standards of right conduct; moral excellence; uprightness. ME.
Earl of Chatham Honour, courage..humanity, and in one word, virtue in its true signification. R. P. Warren A..mentor for virtue in the midst of the political hurly-burly. personified: J. Trollope How tiresome virtue is..blocking every path to pleasure.
b. Industry, diligence. Scot. rare. M16.
c. Chastity or sexual purity, esp. on the part of a woman. L16.
A particular form of moral excellence; a special manifestation of the influence of moral principles in life or conduct. Also, any of certain moral qualities regarded as of particular worth or importance, as each of the cardinal, natural, or theological virtues (see below). ME.
Guardian The wifely virtues of patience, tolerance and self-sacrifice.
b. A personification or representation of a moral quality. M19.
Physical strength, force, or energy. ME-E16.
b. Flourishing state or condition. rare. LME-L15.
The possession or display of manly qualities; manly excellence, courage, valour. arch. ME.
Shaftesbury His Arms or military Virtue.
a. An acquired skill or accomplishment. ME-E19.
b. Superiority or excellence; outstanding ability, merit, or distinction. Now rare. LME.
c. = VIRTU 1. rare. E18-E19.
II. As a quality of things.
a. Of a precious stone: magical or supernatural power, esp. in the prevention or cure of disease etc.; later, great worth or value. ME-E16.
b. Esp. of a herb, drug, etc.: efficacy arising from inherent physical qualities; beneficial, restorative, or healing property. ME.
E. Raffald It will draw all the virtue out of the..herbs, and turn it to a good gravy.
c. Moral efficacy; influence working for good on human life or conduct. Now rare. ME.
F. Myers If Divine virtue is to be ascribed to every letter of Scripture.
d. Inherent worth, merit, or efficacy of any kind. LME.
A. J. P. Taylor Halifax..had learnt the virtue of appeasement during..long negotiations.
e. Of a law etc.: operation, force. LME-L17.
A particular power, property, beneficial quality or feature, inherent in or pertaining to something. ME.
W. Dampier The Sulphurousness or Other Vertue of this Water. A. Toffler Singing the virtues of..microcomputers. Dissent A special virtue of..Walzer's essay..is that it is written in a spirit of generosity.
Phrases: by virtue of, in virtue of, by the virtue of, in the virtue of by the power or efficacy of; now, on the strength of, in consequence of, because of. cardinal virtue: see CARDINAL adjective. lady of easy virtue: see LADY noun & adjective. make a virtue of necessity, make virtue of necessity, make a virtue of need, make virtue of need [after Old French faire de necessite vertu, Latin facere de necessitate virtutem] derive benefit or advantage from performing an unwelcome obligation with apparent willingness; submit to unavoidable circumstances with a good grace. natural virtue: see NATURAL adjective. of easy virtue: see EASY adjective 8. theological virtue: see THEOLOGICAL adjective 1.
virtued adjective (rare) invested with virtue or efficacy E17.
virtueless adjective (a) lacking efficacy or excellence; ineffective, worthless; (b) lacking moral excellence; immoral: LME.