noun
Etymology: Middle English ethik, from Middle French ethique, from Latin ethice, from Greek ēthikē, from ēthikos
Date: 14th century
the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation,
2. a set of moral principles ; a theory or system of moral values , the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group , a guiding philosophy, a consciousness of moral importance , a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness)