English Explanatory Dictionary

by virtue of

English dictionary entry

Meanings

prep
  1. (originally) By the authority or power of; (now) because of; on the grounds of; by reason of.

Pronunciation

/baɪ ˈvɜːtʃuː ɒv/ /-tjuː-/ /baɪ ˈvɝtʃu ʌv/ En-au-by virtue of.ogg

Word forms

by virtue of

Etymology

Modification of Middle English in vertu of, a calque of Anglo-Norman par vertu de or Middle French par la vertu de (“by the authority of”); from Old French vertu (“goodness; honour; valour; virtue”) (whence English virtue (“(obsolete) inherent power of a god or other supernatural being; inherent power or efficacy of something”)).

Synonyms

based on due to in virtue of on account of along of because because of as a consequence of out of consideration for by dint of on the force of on the grounds of in the interest of on owing to for the purpose of by reason of in respect of as a result of for sake of for the sake of thanks to by virtue of
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