# by virtue of

> English word · Preposition · IPA /baɪ ˈvɜːtʃuː ɒv/

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

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/by-virtue-of