Virtuous, a.
Etymology: [OE. vertuous, OF. vertuos, vertuous, F. vertueux, fr. L. Virtuous. See Virtue, and cf. Virtuoso.]
1. Possessing or exhibiting virtue. Specifically: -- (a) Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous; valiant; brave. [Obs.] Old Priam's son, amongst them all, was chiefly virtuous. Chapman.
(b) Having power or efficacy; powerfully operative; efficacious; potent. [Obs.] Chaucer. Lifting up his virtuous staff on high, He smote the sea, which calméd was with speed. Spenser. Every virtuous plant and healing herb. Milton.
(c) Having moral excellence; characterized by morality; upright; righteous; pure; as, a virtuous action. The virtuous mind that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, conscience. Milton.
2. Chaste; pure; -- applied especially to women. Mistress Ford . . . the virtuous creature, that hath the jealous fool to her husband. Shak. -- Vir"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- Vir"tu*ous*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for virtuous; he lists it under innocent, pure.
Where he writes about it:
Innocent is a negative word, expressing less than righteous, upright, or virtuous, which imply knowledge of good and evil, with free choice of the good. — from innocent
A little child or a lamb is innocent; a tried and faithful man is righteous, upright, virtuous. — from innocent
Virtuous refers primarily to right action; pure to right feeling and motives; as, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," Matt. v, 8. — from pure