Meaning

adjective being actually such in almost every respect

adjective existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact

originPIE word *wiHrós The adjective is derived from Middle English vertual, virtual [and other forms], from Old French vertüal, vertüelle (modern French virtuel), or from their etymon Medieval Latin virtuālis (“of or pertaining to potency or power; having power to produce an effect, potent; morally virtuous”), from Latin virtūs (“goodness, virtue; manliness, virility”) (from vir (“adult male, man”)…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0