'Ethic' definitions:

Definition of 'ethic'

(from WordNet)
noun
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]
noun
A system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct [syn: ethic, ethical code]

Definition of 'Ethic'

From: 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]

Definition of 'ethic'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]