[syn: ethic, ethical code]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ethic \Eth"ic\, Ethical \Eth"ic*al\, a. [L. ethicus, Gr. ?, fr.
? custom, usage, character, dwelling; akin to ? custom, Goth.
sidus, G. sitte, Skr. svadh?, prob. orig., one's own doing;
sva self + dh? to set: cf. F. ['e]thique. See So, Do.]
Of, or belonging to, morals; treating of the moral feelings
or duties; containing percepts of morality; moral; as, ethic
discourses or epistles; an ethical system; ethical
philosophy.
[1913 Webster]
The ethical meaning of the miracles. --Trench.
[1913 Webster]
Ethical dative (Gram.), a use of the dative of a pronoun to
signify that the person or thing spoken of is regarded
with interest by some one; as, Quid mihi Celsus agit? How
does my friend Celsus do?
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
ethic \eth"ic\ ([e^]th"[i^]k), n.
1. the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an
individual or a social group; as, the Puritan ethic.
[WordNet sense 1]
Syn: moral principle, value-system, value orientation.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. a system of principles governing morality and acceptable
conduct. [WordNet sense 2]
Syn: ethical code.
[WordNet 1.5]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ethic
n 1: the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an
individual or a social group; "the Puritan ethic"; "a
person with old-fashioned values" [syn: ethic, moral
principle, value-system, value orientation]
2: a system of principles governing morality and acceptable
conduct [syn: ethic, ethical code]