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W I N N E R
ETHIC
Main Entry:eth·ic
Pronunciation: \e-thik\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ethik, from Middle French ethique, from Latin ethice, from Greek ?thik?, from ?thikos
Date: 14th century
1 plural but sing or plural in constr : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation
2 a : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values <the present-day materialistic ethic> <an old-fashioned work ethic> often used in plural but singular or plural in construction <an elaborate ethics><Christian ethics> b plural but sing or plural in constr : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group <professional ethics> c : a guiding philosophy d : a consciousness of moral importance <forge a conservation ethic> 3 plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness) <debated the ethics of human cloning>oral certainty>
3 : perceptual or psychological rather than tangible or practical in nature or effect <a moral victory> <moral support> mor·al·ly \--l?\ adverb
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