Arete
Arete is being excellent at what you are — doing your characteristic job well. It applies to knives as readily as to people.
Full definition of Arete →:: COMPARE ::
AretevsVirtue
The short answer
'Virtue' is the conventional translation and the main source of confusion — it sounds moral and slightly prim. Aretē is closer to excellence or peak performance, and applies to horses and knives as readily as to people. Something can have arete without having any moral standing whatsoever.
Side by side
| Aspect | Arete | Virtue |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to objects | Yes | Rarely, but yes |
| Register | Excellence | Moral |
| Measured against | Your function | A standard |
| Root | Traditionally aristos | Latin virtus |
What each one means
Virtue
The contrast above sets out how Virtue differs from Arete on the points that actually matter.