ethic

Noun

Synonyms: moral principle value-system value orientation ethical code

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

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”Synonyms: moral principle value-system value orientation
a system of principles governing morality and acceptable conductSynonyms: ethical code

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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]

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]