ethic

English

Alternative forms

• ethick (obsolete)

Etymology

(deprecated template usage) From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old French ethique, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Late Latin ethica, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Ancient Greek ἠθική (ēthikḗ), from ἠθικός (ēthikós, “of or for morals, moral, expressing character”), from ἦθος (êthos, “character, moral nature”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛθɪk/

Adjective

ethic (comparative more ethic, superlative most ethic)

1. Moral, relating to morals.

Noun

ethic (plural ethics)

1. A set of principles of right and wrong behaviour guiding, or representative of, a specific culture, society, group, or individual.

   I think the golden rule is a great ethic.

2. The morality of an action. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• consistent life ethic
• ethic of reciprocity
• evolutionary ethic

• Protestant ethic
• work ethic

Related terms

• ethical
• ethics
• ethos

See also

• ethic dative

Further reading

• “ethic”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “ethic”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “ethic”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• Citeh, etchi, theic