a. [f. VICE sb.1 1.] Free from vice.
1560. Rolland, Seven Sages, 5. To that effect, that he may viceless be, Of all vices, and sic thing as gais wrang.
1591. Savile, Tacitus, Hist., I. xlix. 27. Galba rather vicelesse than greatly vertuous.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., V. ii. (1675), 301. Errours about Religion, maintaind by Men that are resolute, and viceless.
16714. Lady Warwick, Autobiog. (Percy Soc.), 164. Mr. Henry St. John was very good natured and viceless. Ibid. The young men were not viceless.
1847. J. Halliday, Rustic Bard, 321.
Viceless virtue, undecaying, | |
Shed her lustre on our name; | |
Let us all, as one assaying, | |
Strive to keep the ennobling gem. |
1890. Sat. Rev., 22 Nov., 575/1. Those who are themselves sinless and viceless.