by virtue of

== English == === 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”)). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /baɪ ˈvɜːtʃuː ɒv/, /-tjuː-/ (General American) IPA(key): /baɪ ˈvɝtʃu ʌv/ Hyphenation: by vir‧tue of === Preposition === by virtue of (idiomatic) (originally) By the authority or power of; (now) because of; on the grounds of; by reason of. Synonyms: based on, due to, in virtue of; see also Thesaurus:because of ==== Translations ==== === References ===